Eric Peddy (30), the "Ace" who continued to worry about the NC Dinos as his appearance was delayed, finally finished his practice pitch without any problems. Everyone's long-awaited first appearance in the postseason is also approaching.
An NC official told Star News on the 27th, "Peddy played 43 bullpen pitches today, and there was nothing unusual." On the same day, NC manager Kang In-kwon, who was in charge of training for the playoffs at Changwon NC Park, also said, "(Peddy) will check his condition through bullpen pitching again today. "If nothing happens, I'll take the mound (in the first round of the playoffs)," he said. It is not unusual that there is no abnormality after pitching in the bullpen, but if the main character is Peddy, the story is different.

NC, which finished the pennant race in fourth place, continues to do better than expected in baseball this fall. They advanced to the semi-playoff with a 14-9 win in the wild-card game against the Doosan Bears. He then succeeded in upsetting SSG Landers, who was one step higher in the regular season, by winning all three games in the semi-playoffs. It is the first time in 15 years that the Samsung Lions beat the Lotte Giants in 2008 to win a sweep in the best-of-five semi-playoff.

However, the starting lineup did not contribute much. Tanner Turley, a foreign pitcher who took the mound in Game 1 of the wild card game and Game 3 of the semi-playoff, collapsed by allowing five runs in four innings and five runs in two innings, respectively. Shin Min-hyuk, the starting pitcher of Game 1 of the semi-playoff, contributed to the team's victory with five scoreless ⅔ innings, but Song Myung-ki, the starting pitcher of Game 2, went down without catching an out count, getting a two-run shot by Han Yu-seom in the fourth inning after allowing three scoreless innings.
It was a must-win group that filled this void. Left-hander Kim Young-kyu pitched three semi-playoff games and three ⅔ innings, recording one win and two hold average of zero. Right-hander Ryu Jin-wook, who recorded 22 holds in the regular season, also pitched in all three games and won three holds. He gave up one run in three innings, but never gave up the lead. Coach Kang explained, "In the regular season, even if the pitcher was a little shaken, I kept going for the next game, but in the postseason, I'm replacing it quickly."

However, the biggest problem with NC's starting lineup is neither Tanner's poor performance nor somewhat weak native starters. Ace Peddy has not been able to throw a single pitch. NC continues to have a difficult schedule despite consecutive wins as the player who needs to be in the center is unable to play.

Peddy is the best pitcher in the KBO league this season. Throwing 180 ⅓ innings in 30 regular-season games, he posted a 2.00 ERA with 20 wins, 6 losses and 209 strikeouts. The 20 wins-200 strikeout season was the first record in 37 years since Haitai Sun Dong-yeol in 1986, although he missed achieving the 20 wins-1 runs average at the same time, which was only six times in history due to the ⅓ innings difference. He also achieved the seventh pitcher in history, and the triple crown (triple crown), which only achieved three pitchers in the past: Sun Dong-yeol (1986, 1989, 1990, 1991), Ryu Hyun-jin (2006), and Yoon Seok-min (2011).
Amid this performance, Peddy became the 10th winner of the Choi Dong-won Award given to the best player in the league, and KBO Golden Glove is also likely to win the pitcher category. On top of that, it is a grade that can be targeted for MVP. In a survey of 50 players from 10 teams to mark the 19th anniversary of Star News' foundation in August (Sept. 1), Peddy was selected by more than half of 32 (64%) when asked, "Who would you choose if you vote for MVP this season?"

As of the 28th, Peddy has been closed for more than 10 days. Peddy started as a starter against KIA in Gwangju on the 16th. Peddy, who recorded three hits, no outs and five strikeouts in five ⅔ innings, was hit in the right forearm by Ko Jong-wook's ball in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs. Peddy, who collapsed on the mound, was replaced by Kim Young-kyu. As a result of the examination, he was diagnosed with a simple bruise on his right forearm.

Peddy failed to make the wild card game entry due to his physical condition and schedule to play, but he succeeded in joining the semi-playoff. But it never came up in the series. Peddy pitched 19 bullpen pitches on the 22nd, when the first game was held, but he complained of anxiety and failed to come up in the second game. Coach Kang then initially predicted Peddy as a starter in Game 3, but replaced the starter with Tanner at a press conference after the end of Game 2, saying, "I'm sorry I became a liar." Coach Kang said, "I was so sorry for the opposing team (SSG), so I sent a message through the senior coach."

Of course, it is a positive part that he won four consecutive postseason games without Peddy. Catcher Kim Hyung-joon said after Game 3, "Of course, it's good to have Peddy. But it showed that we can do it without it. "I think I was able to win three consecutive games (semi-playoffs) because all the other players were strong and threw well." Still, it is welcome to join the "Cheongun Manma" named Pedi.
It was Peddy, who had continued to show discomfort and anxiety, but it did not come out of the pitch on the 27th. Peddy was seen entering the locker room with a bright expression on that day. It can be said that his condition has risen that much.

NC will play the best-of-five playoff against KT Wiz, the second place in the regular season, from the 30th. This season, NC met KT and was slightly behind with 6 wins and 10 losses. Peddy had no luck with one win and two losses in three games against KT this season, but his ERA was 2.65. He pitched 17 innings and struck out 23 times, showing outstanding pitching.

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