“The hardest thing about this league is…”

KIA’s Mario Sanchez (29) admitted that it’s not easy to adjust to the KBO. Sanchez improved to 4-2 on the season with a 7.2 inning, 2-hit shutout against the Gwangju Hanwha on May 25, striking out six and walking one. He lowered his ERA from 6.03 to 5.28.

Sanchez topped out at 147 mph on his fastball on the day and averaged 144 mph. He used a slider, cutter, curve, and changeup. Although not labeled, the slider and curve included a sweeper. He threw 92 pitches, 61 for strikes.

Sanchez pitches with his right foot just barely touching home plate on the first base side. That’s why his outside slider and cutter are so powerful against righties. Against lefties, however, he’s had good success with his high fastball, which had a .312 BABIP before today. With a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, a moving fastball, and off-speed pitches, he has the potential to make it in the KBO.

However, Sanchez has struggled to adjust to the KBO so far. He was honest about it after the game. Double kicking is prohibited, and squatting is strictly enforced. One balk was called on the day. It was pointed out that he should have folded his shoulders and turned his upper body to first base.

Sanchez tried to understand, but didn’t look like he was 100% on board. “The hard thing about this league is that every game the umpires are asking for adjustments, changes. It’s a constant thing. Honestly, I still can’t say I’m used to it,” he said.

Still, he pitched his best game since joining the KBO. “It’s special to win at home. You can feel the fans’ cheers and support. There is a sense of unity. The players are so good. I don’t have to do anything. I think the bond is better than I thought it would be.”

Kia’s starting pitching staff is a bit of an innings-eaters. Sanchez needs to go the full seven innings more often to give the team some breathing room on the mound. “I want to get more innings,” he said. That’s the goal,” he said.메이저사이트

Hanwha’s starter was also Sanchez, left-hander Ricardo Sanchez. He even looks like he’s from Venezuela. They say they have the same name, but technically they have the same last name. “I’ve been around a lot of Sanchezes in Venezuela and in the United States,” Sanchez laughs. It’s a very common surname. I’ve played against Ricardo before in the Venezuelan Winter League. I don’t know him personally.”