The second 1-run ERA in the 2000s.

In modern baseball, a 1-run ERA is a dream come true. It’s harder than winning 20 games.

It used to be the norm to have a sub-one ERA. In the original 18-year period from 1982 to 1999, there were three 0s, 11 1s, and four 2s. The zeroes came in 1986, 1987, and 1993, all by a single player. It was set by the “national treasure” Sun Dong-yeol, the former national team coach.

After 2000, it became harder to find a zero, let alone a one. In the 23 years between 2000 and last year, there was only one 1-run ERA. In 2010, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles posted a 1.82. The next best was Daniel Rios of the Doosan Bears in 2007 with 2.07, followed by Ahn Woo-jin of the Kiwoom Heroes last year with 2.11.먹튀검증

The 2023 KBO League game between the Lotte Giants and LG Twins was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on April 24. LG starting pitcher Plutko is in relief. Jamsil = Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2023.06.24/
There have been other occasions when a team has topped the list for ERA against three runs. In 2014, Samsung Lions VandenHulk won the title with a 3.18 ERA, and in 2017, KT Wiz Ryan Pierce became the first KT titleholder with a 3.04 ERA.

We’re almost halfway through the season, and there are still four sub-1 ERAs. There are four of them. Topping the list is last year’s titleholder, Ahn Woo-jin, who is on pace for a second straight title with a 1.61. In second place is Adam Plutko, the undefeated pitcher of the LG Twins, with a 1.66 ERA. The NC Dinos’ new foreign ace Eric Peddy is third at 1.74, and Doosan’s returning ace Raul Alcantara is fourth at 1.90.

The 2023 KBO League game between the LG Twins and the NC Dinos was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on March 3. NC starting pitcher Pedi is pitching in relief. Jamsil = Choi Moon-young 기자deer@sportschosun.com /2023.06.03/
No collapse. The most earned runs in a game was three for Ahn in 14 games, but only twice, and three earned runs was only once. Plutko had one 3-run game, and Pedi had two 3-run games out of three.

Unlike the other three, Alcantara had a big breakdown. On May 26, he gave up seven earned runs in 5⅓ innings against SSG in Jamsil. His ERA, which was 1.29 the day before, skyrocketed to 2.20. He has since reduced his ERA and brought it back down to one.

The 2023 KBO League game between the SSG Landers and the Doosan Bears was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 20th. Doosan Alcantara heads to the dugout after a scoreless inning of defense in the third inning. By Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2023.06.20/
Now that the rainy season is upon us, baseball players have to deal with a jagged pitching schedule and a hot summer. He needs to manage his physical condition and stamina to pitch consistently.

Ahn’s monthly performance last season was 2.25 in April and 2.37 in May, followed by a very good 1.78 in June, but the worst was 3.25 in July. He followed that up with a 1.50 ERA in August and a 1.70 ERA in September to finish with a 2.11 ERA. With a better July, he could have been in the single digits.

Both of these pitchers need to close out games with aces. Obviously, they need to minimize runs and go the distance. That’s how you get a good ERA.

It’s been 13 years since we’ve had a sub-one ERA. We have to get through the rainy season.