Right-hander Cho Sung-hoon (24-SSG Landers) will take the mound for the first time in four years and eight months.

SSG announced that he will be the starting pitcher for their upcoming game against the Doosan Bears in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League on April 20 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. Initially, right-handed sidearm Jong-hoon Park was slated to start in the rotation. Jong-hoon was sent down to the second team on the 15th due to his continued struggles, leaving a spot open for Cho Sung-hoon.

Cho joined the SK Wyverns (now SSG) in 2018, but has only one career first-team appearance. He made a relief appearance against Doosan on 메이저놀이터 October 11, 2018, and struggled, giving up two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings. After failing to establish himself in the first team, he joined the commercial team in April 2019. He returned to the team after his discharge, but didn’t make it to the first team until last year.

Instead of giving up, Cho refined his skills in the Futures (second division) league, where he went 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA in nine games and 23.2 innings this year. In particular, he caught the eye of the coaching staff with two consecutive five-inning no-hit performances against the KT Wiz on April 8 and the KIA Tigers on April 15, and was promoted to the first team after four years and eight months.

Cho Sung-hoon is known for his fastball in the 150-kilometer range, which comes from his large height of 186 centimeters. Other than that, not much is known about his pitches or delivery. Coach Kim Won-hyung is not expecting much from Cho Sung-hoon right away, but he is asking him to be confident and face batters without striking out.

Doosan, which begins a three-game midweek series against SSG, has announced Raul Alcantara as the starter for the first day. Alcantara has been the team’s No. 1 starter this season with a 7-3 record and a 1.98 ERA.