"I really want to deliver the shutout today (26th) to my late father."

Lim Chan-kyu (LG Twins) was the first person that came to mind when he hit his first shutout.

In a home game against the Hanwha Eagles in the 2025 professional baseball league held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday, Lim started the game and allowed two hits, two outs and five strikeouts during nine innings, leading LG to a 4-0 victory. It is the first time that Lim Chan-kyu has been shut out.

There was no significant crisis. The total number of pitches he threw was 100, with fastballs (41 pitches), curves (28), change-up (25 pitches), and sliders (6 pitches) evenly distributed. The maximum speed of fastballs was measured up to 145 km.

"Park Dong-won (catcher) and Lim Chan-kyu showed perfect pitching today with ball combinations that show the highest level of ball control. Congratulations on your first shutout victory in your career," LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said after the game.메이저놀이터

Lim Chan-kyu said, "I didn't take the mound thinking of a shutout. I threw one batter and one batter intensively, and the result was good. Anyway, I wanted to try it once, so I feel special," he said with a bright smile.

"I actually had doubts even when I went up to the mound in the top of the ninth inning. I tried to throw hard one by one. I felt different emotions in the ninth inning, but I tried to throw as usual," he said. "I asked the coach to think about it (if the runner goes out). The coach thought there were only two players, but he said he would visit before then. The middle pitchers were waiting behind me, so I threw a strike boldly."

He continued, "I think I got something in the top of the ninth inning. I got some dopamine and other indices as well. Whenever I threw a ball, the fans shouted out loud. I heard him throw it. I heard him throw it. Everyone was cheering for me. I wanted to hurry up and block hitters. So I threw one by one, concentrating on myself," and added, "I wanted to finish facing (catcher) (Park) Dong-won." Coincidentally, I hit a grounder to the pitcher and finished the game with (first baseman) Austin Dean (laughs). I was a little disappointed, but thank you for your fierce congratulation. I wanted to hold Dong-won and have a great ceremony, but it was a bit disappointing that it ended like that. I want to have such a ceremony next time."

Immediately after winning the shutout, the first person that came to mind was my father, who I can't see anymore. Lim Chan-kyu's father died in May 2021. Lim Chan-kyu said, "I thought of my sister and mother who came to the ballpark today, and my father who didn't see it because it was my first shutout. I really want to deliver the shutout today to my late father."

Lim Chan-kyu, who was designated by LG as the second overall player in the first round in 2011, is a veteran right-hander who played in 323 games (1,209.2 innings) until last year and recorded 75 wins, 78 losses, eight saves, six holds and an ERA of 4.53. In particular, he has performed well recently. In 30 games (144.2 innings) in the 2023 season, he wrote 14 wins, 3 losses and 1 hold and an ERA of 3.42 to lead LG to its third combined championship in 29 years (1990, 1994, 2023) since 1994.

Since then, Lim Chan-kyu, who has played in 25 games (134 innings) and recorded 10-6 losses with one hold and an ERA of 3.83 last year, will face the joy of his first individual shutout victory on the day. He can't throw a fiery fastball, but it was a result of his skill, accurate control and control of his ball speed.

Lim Chan-kyu said, "Everyone has a goal. There are people who are happy when they imagine throwing the fastest ball in the world, and there are people who are happy when they write records, and I'm happy when I imagine myself improving little by little every year," and added, "I always have that goal. I'm running with my eyes glistening, imagining myself growing a little more last year than last year, this year, and this time next year."

Lastly, he said, "This is not the end of the season. We still have a lot of seasons left, so I think we should always prepare well. When I went up to the ninth inning today, I thought more about the points and how I should throw a ball, rather than thinking about hitting a shutout. That's my goal. I think this will be the same goal until I retire."