KIA announced on December 17th last year, when the KBO League's winter vacation was in full swing, that its players would 'study abroad in the United States'. KIA announced that it would send five of its players and two coaches to the ‘Driveline Baseball Center’ located in Seattle, USA. It was not a one-day or two-day field trip. It was a long-term schedule of 33 nights and 34 days.
'Driveline Baseball Center' (hereinafter referred to as Driveline) is a place where many major league players visit for winter training. We use systematic training programs as well as cutting-edge technology to improve players' pitching mechanisms. There were many pitchers whose performance improved after receiving training, so it quickly emerged as a star academy. KIA dispatched five players who will lead the future of the team here, including Hae-young Jeong, Ui-ri Lee, Young-cheol Yoon, Dong-ha Hwang, and Do-gyu Kwak, and sent coaches Jae-hoon Jeong and Dong-geol Lee to manage the players and let them experience advanced culture.
KIA's internal judgment is that despite the long schedule, the players expressed satisfaction and there were tangible results. KIA general manager Shim Jae-hak explained, “If you look at the reports we have, the speed has improved by about 3 to 5 km depending on the player.” In fact, some players, such as Yoon Young-cheol, are raising many people's expectations by showing a clear increase in velocity compared to last year, starting from bullpen pitching at Canbury Camp. However, Director Shim’s eyes are conservative. I don't believe in magic. KIA's story is that this is just the beginning.
Director Shim said, “It is a really good situation if there is an improvement in velocity or something else in a short period of time. However, there is some doubt as to whether this can be maintained just because velocity has increased.” In fact, if it were possible to drastically change everything about a player in just a month or so, I would have sent everyone to Driveline. Not really. Effectiveness comes when these techniques are consistently accepted and players establish a broad understanding of these techniques. KIA's current dispatch to Seattle is also focusing more on this point.
General Manager Shim said, "Rather than achieving short-term results, the biggest goal was to let players experience the biomechanics system and to help our promising pitchers maintain a certain routine." He added, "Secondly, our team's players Among them, there are a few players who need to modify their pitch design. For example, Young-cheol Yoon and Ui-ri Lee have a phenomenon where they get pushed away when their grip slips out of their hands. By watching such things with a high-speed camera, they visually check and correct them, and create a routine. “The processes were important,” he explained.
There is a difference between just thinking about it and feeling it when you actually see your pitch through a high-speed camera. Driveline's biggest priority is to accurately measure the player's current condition. Afterwards, we discuss and apply how to solve the problem and how to make pitching without loss possible. The biggest advantage of this center is that it has accumulated sufficient data from its experience fixing major league players.
In fact, 33 nights was too short for all of the KIA players' problems to be resolved. However, I came back after realizing something. The speed of development is bound to change in the future. Director Shim also emphasized, “He must have come in clearly knowing his own strengths and weaknesses. Based on that, we will push forward with the practice and process.”
It may seem like coaches would have been right next to the players and helped with training, but that's not the case. Rather, the coaches were in class the entire time. Director Shim said, “The coaches did not go to see the players, but really went to learn coaching. We took classes with the Driveline coaches on how to apply it to the players.” He added, “I have a friend who is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the data team. “I have one, and I also sent that friend to prepare how to accumulate and utilize data,” he said, adding that he would build the capabilities of the entire club, not limited to players.
Director Shim said that this dispatch is only the beginning. The plan is to actively adopt various advanced technologies, such as biomechanics, through active investment in the future and lay them on the foundation of the team's power. Director Shim said, “We are talking about it to some extent through Hawkeye, but there is little raw data accumulated. Only when data is accumulated can we measure something right away,” adding, “Human resources are also important. Japan Pro “I asked for advice from Baseball Yomiuri and Softbank, and they said that although Japan also uses biomechanics equipment, it is not easy to find a mechanics coach who can handle it well.” The idea is to gradually resolve this issue through continued interest and investment.
General Manager Shim said, "Not only Driveline, but we are going through the process of systematizing all aspects. As I said when I first came here, we considered the system of young players to be important, and Driveline and dispatching to the Australian League are part of that. This season is "There are a few things we are preparing even after the team is finished. We are thinking about investing in biomechanics and equipment. In that regard, we will try to keep up with other teams," he said, drawing a picture of the future
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