A pitcher’s delivery can only yield two outcomes: a strike or a ball. Naturally, every hurler aims to avoid walks. But two South Korean left-handers—Kim Jin-wook of the Lotte Giants and Lee Eui-ri of the KIA Tigers—are experiencing polar opposite seasons, and the root cause lies in how they handle the count.
Both 24 and drafted in the same year, these former high school aces were once billed as generational rivals. But in the 2026 season, their performances are worlds apart. Kim Jin-wook is soaring, while Lee Eui-ri is drowning in struggles.
The numbers tell a stark story. Through seven starts (42.2 innings), Kim Jin-wook owns a 2.53 ERA with a 2-2 record, striking out 40 batters while issuing only 14 walks. Lee Eui-ri, on the other hand, has pitched eight games (28 innings) to a 1-4 mark and an alarming 9.00 ERA. He has fanned 32 but walked 26—almost one per inning.
Kim himself was once plagued by command issues. Over his first five seasons (2021–2025), he averaged 6.48 walks per nine innings, though his strikeout rate (9.10 per nine) was respectable. The free passes held him back.
But this year is different. Kim’s walk rate has plummeted to 2.95 per nine innings, while his strikeout rate sits at 8.44 per nine—slightly down from his career average but more than acceptable. His strikeout-to-walk ratio has soared to 2.86, a career best.
When asked about his transformation, Kim explained: “I don’t think about walks anymore. Before, as soon as I fell behind, I’d worry about issuing a walk. I changed my mindset. The battle is still with the batter. Now I just focus on what pitch he might swing at. That naturally makes me less concerned about walks.”
Lee Eui-ri, meanwhile, posted a 9.68 strikeout rate and a 5.57 walk rate over the same five-year span, with a K/BB ratio of just 1.74. His velocity and stuff kept him competitive, but pinpoint command was never his strength.
In 2026, his strikeout rate has improved to 10.29 per nine innings, but his walk rate has ballooned to 8.48 per nine. His fastball still sits above 150 km/h, as consistently as before his injury, but without control, he is struggling mightily.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho acknowledged the issue: “I see him overthinking every ball. Once he falls behind, he starts worrying, ‘What if I throw another ball?’ or ‘Why can’t I throw a strike?’ He doesn’t need to do that. I told him to sing a song on the mound—just clear his mind. He has to erase those negative thoughts.”
Back in high school, Kim (Gangneung High) and Lee (Gwangju Ilgo) were considered the top left-handed arms of their class, entering the pros together. Now in their sixth season, Kim has eliminated the fear of walking batters, while Lee remains trapped by it. This difference in mentality has translated into a massive gap in results.