The highlight of the pre-event for the All-Star Game is the fan signing event. There are quite a few ‘current’ star players who have memories 꽁머니of walking up to their favorite players and signing autographs when they were young. star of stars. The idol of active representative ace Ahn Woo-jin (23, Kiwoom Heroes) was major leaguer Ryu Hyun-jin (35, Toronto Blue Jays).
Ahn Woo-jin, who became the league’s representative pitcher, participated in the All-Star Game held on the 14th and 15th, and reorganized his mind and body by communicating with fans and colleagues. He made eye contact with the fans who supported him through a fan signing event. He talked with Moon Dong-ju, who is expected to be the league’s representative fire bowler, and exchanged jokes with Socrates Brito, a foreign hitter from the KIA Tigers who hit a home run on him during an expedition to Gwangju on the 28th of last month. He even went head-to-head with his teammates to show off his unconventional side at the All-Star Game.
Ahn Woo-jin had a fan signing event and shared memories about the autographer. He was able to collect the autographs of several star players in the past, and he exchanged the autographed autographs of Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop with Ryu Hyun-jin’s autographed ball from his older brother who played baseball with him. An Woo-jin said, “I have no regrets. He prefers pitchers.”
Ryu Hyun-jin and Ahn Woo-jin already have a deep relationship. Members of the same agency (ASPEC) met and communicated every off-season. Last winter, when Ryu Hyun-jin, who underwent elbow surgery, began rehabilitation, An Woo-jin also completed training earlier than usual in accordance with his senior’s training schedule. Ahead of the 2021 season, he took the advice of Ryu Hyun-jin, who emphasized pitching form that is difficult to distinguish from throwing a four-seam fastball (fastball), learned how to use the middle and ring fingers, and studied in his own way.
Ahn Woo-jin and Ryu Hyun-jin are also compared in terms of records. An Woo-jin recorded 224 strikeouts last season (2022), and was named as a Korean player who broke 200 strikeouts in 10 years after Ryu Hyun-jin (210) in 2012. Ryu Hyun-jin ranked first in strikeouts five times out of the seven seasons he played in the KBO League. An Woo-jin is following his path.
The same goes for his earned run average. Ryu Hyun-jin is the last pitcher in Korea to record an average ERA of 1 point (1.82 in 2010). Last season (2022), Woojin Ahn ranked first in this category and recorded 2.11.
Ahn Woo-jin was shaken by giving more than 4 points in 3 consecutive games at the end of the first half. Looking back at his memories with ‘Idol’ Ryu Hyun-jin, he strengthened his will for the second half of the spurt.