NC Dinos reliever Chun Sa-min pitches against the Kia Tigers during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this Aug. 10, 2025, photo provided by the Dinos. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — With each passing outing in one tough situation after another, NC Dinos reliever Chun Sa-min is learning more and more about himself.
In his fifth Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season at age 26, the 194-centimeter right-hander is finally realizing the value of trusting his pitches. And his superb outing Tuesday night was emblematic of that growing self-belief. Chun struck out a career-high five batters in 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief to help the Dinos beat the Doosan Bears 3-2 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
“Even before I took the mound, I knew I wanted to be aggressive out there,” said Chun, who escaped a two-out, two-on jam in the third and then stranded a runner at second in the fifth. He struck out the side in the fourth, including two with his signature two-seam fastball.
“As the season goes on, I am getting better ideas on how to go after hitters,” Chun added. “And that kind of experience is helping me grow.”
Chun had a rocky start to the season as the Dinos’ setup man, pitching to an 8.53 ERA over his first 13 outings. Manager Lee Ho-joon still stuck with Chun in a high-leverage role, and the pitcher responded with better performances in the ensuing month.
Chun was named the Dinos’ top pitcher for July after posting a 2.38 ERA in 10 appearances.
NC Dinos reliever Chun Sa-min poses for photos after a 3-2 win over the Doosan Bears in the clubs’ Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Aug. 12, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
“Early in the season, I had some good days and bad days, but having this kind of responsibility has been a huge learning experience,” Chun said. “I’ve been learning through my mistakes and also my success.”
Chun said Tuesday’s outing could potentially be a turning point for the rest of the season.
“Since the second half of the season began (in July), I tried to stay focused on being aggressive, and I think I did a better job of that today than any other game,” he said. “I am becoming more convinced that my approach is working.”
Chun has already blown past his previous career highs this season with 53 1/3 innings and 50 outings. He doesn’t have any statistical goal, other than to push himself across the finish line for what has been his first full season.
“I just want to end the season healthy,” he said. “I think results will take care of themselves if I keep grinding. I want to do my best each and every game, and not worry about numbers.”
(Yonhap)
