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After slow start, Lotte pitcher Kim Jin-uk is growing into a giant on the mound

Published: 23 Apr. 2026, 07:00

Lotte Giants' players Kim Jin-uk, left, and Son Seoung-bin [YONHAP]

A once-struggling top prospect is finally living up to his promise, as Lotte Giants pitcher Kim Jin-uk emerges as an ace and rekindles hope for the franchise.

His first major turning point came with his second start of this season on April 8 against the KT Wiz in Busan, where he delivered the best performance of his career, allowing just one run on three hits over eight innings.

In his third start on Wednesday against the LG Twins at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, he followed up with another strong outing — six innings, three hits, and no runs allowed. With precise control along the edges of the strike zone, he neutralized the Twins’ powerful lineup, which had been on an eight-game winning streak. It was the first time in his six-year career that he recorded back-to-back quality starts, or at least six innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs.

Kim was dubbed a “genius pitcher” during his teenage years at Gangneung High School. Evaluators said he was already close to a finished product, with control and game management skills surpassing many professionals.

His pro career, however, proved far from easy. Despite getting steady opportunities, he posted an ERA in the 6.00 range through his first three seasons and struggled to secure a stable spot on the first team.

“I faced many of the same hitters I competed against in high school. I thought if I just held on, I’d become a good player like them, but reality was different, and it was tough," he said.

Determined to improve, Kim made significant efforts ahead of this season. At the end of last year, he paid his own way to train at a baseball academy in Japan, focusing on finding the optimal pitching balance. To address his weakness against left-handed batters, he modified the changeup grip he had introduced last year. He sought advice from veteran pitchers known for their changeups, such as Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, and also worked closely with the Giants' data team.

Lotte Giants' players Kim Jin-uk, left, and Son Seoung-bin [YONHAP]

As a result, he developed his own unique changeup, combining elements from his former teammate Dan Straily and MLB pitcher Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.

“I tried trendy techniques like the kick changeup and analyzed the data provided by the team. In the end, I felt this direction was right," he said. "I used to rely only on sliders and curves that break inside on right-handed batters, but now I have a pitch that moves the opposite way, which is very effective.”

By his side is his rookie classmate, catcher Son Seong-bin, who provides steady support and shares a close friendship with Kim. The 2021 first-round pick was behind the plate in both of Kim’s strong outings and even hit the game-winning home run against LG.

“Jin-uk prepared thoroughly during the offseason. He was always a great pitcher, and it’s really nice to see him finally show his talent on the mound," Son said.

“Seong-bin actually pushes me harder when I’m doing well, telling me to stay focused," Kim replied. "I know he’s been struggling with his batting lately, so I’m glad we’re both getting good results together.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY BAE YOUNG-EUN,KIM HYO-KYOUNG. [[email protected]]