How many innings will Yang Hyun-jong (37, KIA Tigers) play this season.

Yang Hyun-jong, who was called by KIA as the No. 1 overall in the second round in 2007, is a left-hander who recorded 179 wins, 118 losses and a 3.83 ERA in 513 games (2,503.2 innings) until last year. In 29 games (171.1 innings) last year, he also recorded 11 wins, 5 losses and a 4.10 ERA, taking the lead in KIA's V12 by firmly defending the starting lineup.안전놀이터

Yang Hyeon-jong who firmly defended Kia's starting lineup last year. Photograph = Reporter Kim Young-koo
The record Yang holds most dear to him is innings he played. He played 170 innings for 10 consecutive years until last year, ranking second after Song Jin-woo (3003 innings).

However, the number of innings for Yang is expected to decrease to some extent this year. This is why the head coach expressed his intention to manage Yang's innings. Kia manager Lee Bum-ho plans to minimize excessive intake of innings and give Yang enough rest as Yang is not old. Yang, who has been greedy as far as innings, also understood Lee's intention.

Yang Hyun-jong, who met before leaving for Irvine, California, where KIA's first spring camp site was set up on the 22nd, said, "I've talked a lot with the coach since last year. I think the coach is so considerate of me to play in good condition. I have no reason to refuse either."

"Lee Eui-ri (who is recovering from injury due to left-handed pitching) will come back in the second half of the year. Young players also showed good performance since last year. I try to throw good pitches while reducing innings as much as possible," he added.

Of course, he still has greed. "Personally, I don't want the innings to be completely cut and decided. My greed for innings remains the same until the day I take off my uniform," Yang said. "I don't think it's too negative because the coach made that choice."

"I haven't decided on the numbers. I don't know what the season will be like, but personally, I want to throw a lot," he said. "My goal is to be on the mound for a long time. I haven't decided on the numbers."

Kia, which won the combined title last year, intends to continue the honor this year. To this end, Yang was preparing for the season calmly, leaving strong memories of last year's championship as memories.

"The moment of last year's victory will remain a good memory. If I keep that in mind, I don't think it will help me achieve this season. All the players, not me, finished last year's good memory with last year. To finish this season with a good result, I have to start from the beginning," he said, nodding, "I have to compete with the players of the nine teams again this season to win."

Finally, Yang said, "Players also said, 'It's good to win.' I haven't done a car parade in decades and have appeared on a lot of TV personally. I think it's a treatment of the winning team. I want to feel that way. A lot of fans recognized and supported me during the break. I want to keep feeling that way," Yang said. "My goal this year is definitely to win." If I go to autumn baseball, my goal is to go to the Korean Series and to win the title. Rather than saying that I will win from the beginning, I need to set a goal that goes up step by step to achieve good results."