Like "Hector in 2017, 20 wins, 200 innings?", only the first starter of KIA

Will Crow, the KIA Tigers' first foreign pitcher, be able to reproduce the same performance as Hector Noesi, who led the team to a unified victory in 2017. Crow expressed strong confidence to challenge the overwhelming number of 20 wins and 200 innings achieved by Hector at the time.

KIA achieved V11 by banking on its unified team victory in 2017. One of the biggest driving forces behind Kia's unified victory was Hector and Yang's one-two punch. Both Hector and Yang grabbed 20 wins, spearheading the team to win the regular season title.

KIA continued its thirst for a right-handed foreign ace after Hector. Aaron Brooks seemed to satisfy that thirst, but he had to leave the team due to an unfortunate incident. And Crow, who is wearing Kia's uniform ahead of the 2024 season, seems to have the highest expectation as a right-handed ace to dominate the league after Hector and Brooks.

Crow made his debut in an exhibition game against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on March 11, and pitched perfectly with 40 no hits, four strikeouts and no outs in four innings. It was a day for Kia to smile at Crow's perfect pitching that exceeded expectations. With his powerful fastball that can overwhelm the opponent, Crow displayed flawless pitching with right-handed batters' sweepers and changeups decided by left-handed batters. Both his sweeper and changeup movements are considered "A+" pitches in the KBO league.

U.S. right-hander Will Crow, born in 1994, joined the Washington Nationals as the 65th overall pick in the second round in 2017 and began his professional career.

Will Crowe made his Major League debut in the 2020 season, recording two losses and an 11.88 ERA in three starts. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Will Crowe pitched in 26 games (25 starts) in the 2021 season, and spent the entire starting season with four wins and eight losses with a 5.48 11 strikeouts and 57 walks WHIP 1.57.

Will Crow, who switched to the bullpen in the 2022 season, pitched in 60 games (76 innings) with six wins, 10 losses, four saves, 16 holds, and an earned run average of 4.38 68 strikeouts and 38 walks WHIP 1.39. Will Crow only pitched in five games (9.2 innings) in the 2023 season. Will Crow's career record in the minor league is 21 wins, 16 losses, one hold, and an earned run average of 4.01 274 strikeouts and 114 walks with WHIP 1.32.

Will Crow is a power pitcher who plays fastballs with an average speed of around 150 kilometers per hour. He is also good at inducing ground balls using two-seam fastballs. On-site watchers say that he has good control over sliders, sweepers, changeups and curves. Most of all, he has played full-time starting seasons in the Major League in the 2021 season.

Ahead of the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on March 14, KIA manager Lee Bum-ho told reporters, "For foreign pitchers, the first thing to do is to check how their ball power declines when the number of balls is accumulated: 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100. I think ball power itself is one of the top classes. If we observe changes in ball power and ball speed when the team moves closer to 100 pitches for a month after the opening of the season, we will be able to tell whether the team will adapt to the league or succeed. Crow said, "There is a risk to shoulder injury, but it will be okay only in the early part of the season." The shoulder problem that we have identified was also a sprain. "I don't worry about him as he is a player who will prepare hard and manage well."

While pitching in the bullpen session at Jamsil Stadium on Wednesday last week, Crow prepared to take the mound against Gwangju KT WIZ on Wednesday. If preparation continues as it is, Crow will likely take the mound as starting pitcher for the opening series game against the Kiwoom Heroes in Gwangju on Tuesday. Crow focused on pitching curves in his bullpen session. He seemed to be closely monitoring curve movement data while holding two different gripes.

"I'm satisfied with my physical condition as well as I did at the first game of the exhibition game," Crow told reporters after finishing the bullpen session. By gradually raising the number of pitches, he is preparing for the opening of the season without any problems. Today's bullpen session was focused on studying curves. He observed the difference in movement between the two types of curveballs. If a sweeper or a change-up is used to strike out, the curveball is used to take away the opponent's timing. If the two pitches are used together, other pitches will feel more powerful as well," Crow said.

Crow was well aware of the fans' expectations for him as the 'first starter' to dominate the league. He also had enough confidence in his performance in 20 wins and 200 innings like Hector in 2017.

Crow said, "I know the fans have high expectations. I think I have to do that, myself. A starting pitcher should contribute to his team by blocking six to seven innings in every game and accumulating as many wins as possible while not skipping rotation. I will prepare to show such performance well."  홀짝게임