Daejeon: A win would have sent the Eagles to the Korean Series for the first time since 2006, but they blew a 4-0 lead and lost 7-4, setting up a do-or-die Game 5 for Friday night at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in the central city of Daejeon. That game was Jeong’s second postseason outing, following a relief appearance in Game 2 on Sunday. The pitcher said he couldn’t have asked for much more in his rookie campaign.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeong Woo-joo, a rookie right-hander for the Hanwha Eagles, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to pitch in postseason games. Jeong told reporters before the deciding game at his home park, “I didn’t think I would get to start a postseason game in my rookie year. I am so thankful for my manager (Kim Kyung-moon) for having trust in me. This experience has been really important for me.”

With the Eagles now a win away from moving on, Jeong expressed his desire for the team’s season to continue. “I’ve always wanted to go pitch in the Korean Series and now that drive is even stronger,” Jeong said. “I really want a chance to play on an even bigger stage.”

Jeong, not yet 19, hopes to continue pitching in these high-stakes games beyond this week. In Game 4 of the best-of-five Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series against the Samsung Lions, Jeong delivered an impressive performance. He threw 3 1/3 shutout innings, striking out five batters with high fastballs, showcasing his potential in a challenging postseason environment.