SSG Landers’ Noh Kyung-eun, 39, takes each day as it comes. She thinks her time as a baseball player is running out. It’s a shame because she’s only just beginning to appreciate the game. “I have a lot of time for reflection. I’m really realizing the phrase ‘retire when you know baseball’. But I wanted to show that I can do well without retiring. I’m working hard with the idea that I’m only one year old.”

After the 2021 season, Noh was released by the Lotte Giants, and SSG reached out to her. SSG wanted her to be an example to the pitching staff rather than a player. However, Noh bounced back perfectly with SSG. In 2022, she went 12-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 41 games and 79⅔ innings pitched, seven shutouts and one save, helping SSG win the overall title.

This year, Noh has continued her momentum. In 28 games, she has a 4-1 record with 30 innings pitched, 15 holds, and two saves. Her velocity 스포츠토토 hasn’t dropped. She consistently throws her fastball in the mid-to-high 140s, occasionally topping out at 150, and has been dominating opposing batters.

“I actually thought that if my fastball was only in the low 140s, I should continue to play baseball. I was confident because I didn’t have any soreness. I also wanted to show my juniors a good example, so I worked hard on my pitching mechanics, and I think my performance has improved.”

With her performance, Noh has proven her worth and has become one of Kim Won-hyung’s most reliable bullpen cards. The manager’s trust is a big boost for Noh. He said, “It’s a great motivation for me to know that the coach believes in me. He worked hard to recruit me. At first, he told me that I just needed to be an example for the juniors. Now that I’m playing well, he’s giving me more advice. He’s been a pitcher for a long time, so the senior players have a lot to learn from him. I’m just grateful,” he laughed.

Noh ranked first in holds (15). That’s four more than the second-place Lotte Giants’ Koo Seung-min (11). The season is still in full swing, but if she keeps up this pace, Noh will become the oldest holder of the title in KBO history. “I don’t think about being the hold king at all,” Noh said, dismissing any record-breaking aspirations. However, she added, “My goal is to be among the top three in the hold category.”