Oh Seung Hwan’s legacy since his big league debut It feels like he’s been rewarded for all his efforts.
In July 2018, the Toronto Blue Jays traded with the Colorado Rockies. They received two minor league players, Chad Spanberger and Forest Wall, in return for giving up right-hander Oh Seung-hwan, and recruited an additional pitcher named Brian Baker (27) in August.
It was a trade that immediately gave up a sense of power and received three future resources. The result was not bad. Spanberger used right-hander Chase Anderson as a trade card when he recruited him from the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2019. Wall is playing for Triple A as of 2021.
And Baker, the last to join the team, made his big league debut. He made his big league debut at home against the Oakland Athletics on the 6th (Korea Standard Time) after taking the mound in 33 games in Triple-A Buffalo this season with 4 wins, 1 loss and a 1.32 ERA.
Baker expressed his feelings about his debut through a video interview with reporters ahead of an away game against the New York Yankees on the 7th. He said, “All the efforts and training I’ve made so far felt rewarded. “When I realized that these efforts could work, I felt really incredible,” he said.
After taking the mound at the top of the eighth inning, he allowed a hit to Chad Pinder, the first batter, and sent him to third base with a series of wild pitches, but struck out the follow-up batter with two flyballs and strikeouts to escape without losing a point.
He said, “I felt like I had never experienced a wild pitch until the first batter entered the batter’s box.” “After several games, I was able to focus on the game now,” he said, explaining that he needed time to calm down and adapt.
He, who was playing in the top single A at the time of the trade, recalled the time of the trade, saying, “I was a very young player at that time.” “I knew it would be a new beginning for me. The new team began to throw stronger little by little. “I had a lot of work to do, and I knew what to supplement,” he continued.
It grew rapidly through Double A and Triple A in 2019. He said, “The Blue Jays club allowed me to take advantage of my strengths. He threw a fastball on a high course and pitched in the strike zone with a breaking ball. In the meantime, he made it possible to use fastballs. Everything worked, and I was able to come to this point,” he said about what has changed since the trade.
2020 was a difficult year, when the season was suspended due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). He said, “That’s why this year seems more special. “I don’t take anything for granted,” he said.
Whenever the inning starts, he starts the game with the name of his grandfather who inspired him a lot. “He has helped me to have the right mindset since I was young. He also did not forget to express his gratitude to his grandfather, who served as a football coach, saying, “He is really special to me, who taught me sincerity and affection for the game.”