Returning to the Doosan Bears, Yang Eui-ji, the ‘homemaker’, lost face in the first game he played wearing a catcher’s mask.
Yang Eui-ji started as catcher for the 3rd batter in the 2023 KBO demonstration game against KT Wiz held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 20th, but could not prevent the team from losing 2-8.
Yang Eui-ji defended 5 innings until he was replaced with Ahn Seung-han after the end of the 6th inning and took 3 hitting opportunities, but showed disappointing play. He teamed up with ace Raul Alcantara and allowed 5 points up to the 5th inning, and he could not save the scoring position in the attack.
This game drew attention as the starting pitcher of ‘Catcher Yang Eui-ji’ returned.
Eui-ji Yang, who joined Doosan in the 2nd round of 8th round in 2006 with the 59th rank, served as the team’s main catcher until 2018. Yang Eui-ji, who obtained his first free agent (FA) qualification, transferred to NC Dinos for 4 years and 12.5 billion won, and when he became the second free agent, he wore a Doosan uniform again under the condition of 4 + 2 years and a total of 15.2 billion won.
Yang Eui-ji was selected as a national representative and missed the early stages of the demonstration game while participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He played a comeback match against the KIA Tigers on the 19th, but was replaced after only playing one at-bat as a pinch hitter. Therefore, this KT game was the first game Yang Eui-ji played as catcher.
Coach Lee Seung-yeop appointed Yang Eui-ji as the catcher to match Alcantara.
After recording 11 wins and 11 losses and an average ERA of 4.01 at KT in 2019, Alcantara moved to Doosan in 2020 and played an active role with 20 wins and 2 losses and an average ERA of 2.54. He left after signing a contract with the Japanese professional baseball Hanshin Tigers, but returned to Doosan ahead of this season. Alcantara is a team that Doosan is familiar with, but has never worked with Yang Eui-ji as a battery.
Yang Eui-ji met director Lee’s expectations by giving up only one hit until the end of the 3rd inning, showing perfect harmony with Alcantara.
However, at the bottom of the 4th inning, 1-0, they could not keep the lead. Alcantara showed anxiety by giving Cho Yong-ho a hit and Kim Min-hyeok a walk, and Yang Eui-ji couldn’t catch Alcantara’s body ball firmly and threw it back when Park Byeong-ho was batting.
Yang Eui-ji’s foil made him 1 company, 2nd and 3rd base, and Alcantara, whose mentality was shaken, even sent Park Byung-ho on a walk. Then Seong-Woo Jang’s sacrifice fly to left field made the score 1-1.
Doosan, who allowed a tie, even hit a full run at the end of the 5th inning.
Alcantara was replaced after consecutive hits by Park Kyung-soo and Lee Sang-ho, and pitcher Lee Byung-hun, who was in his second year, was put in온라인바카라. Yang Eui-ji continued to wear a catcher’s mask and received the ball from Lee Byung-hun, but could not overcome the crisis. Lee Byung-Hun treated Jo Yong-Ho as a big hit, but Kim Min-Hyeok walked straight and threw a high change-up to Alford to get hit with a home run.
With this one room, the flow completely leaned toward KT.
Yang Eui-ji could not break through the attack. He had a heavy hit with two runs in the top of the first inning, but struck out in the top of the fourth inning, and was out with a second baseman grounder at second base without a hit in the top of the sixth inning.