▲ Kwak Bin ⓒ Doosan Bears
[SPOTV News — Gocheok, Reporter Choi Won-young] He delivered like an ace.
Doosan Bears right-hander Kwak Bin (27) took the mound as the starter in the road game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome on May 3 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. He went six innings, allowing six hits (one homer), one walk, striking out nine and surrendering two runs. Backed by a massive offensive outburst, Doosan cruised to a 14-3 victory and won the series.
Kwak threw 107 pitches, 73 for strikes. His mix included 34 four-seam fastballs, 34 cutters, 16 changeups, 14 curveballs and nine sliders. His four-seam topped out at 157 km/h (97.5 mph) and averaged 153 km/h (95.1 mph).
The start was his fifth quality start of the season and his fifth straight quality start (QS: at least six innings and three earned runs or fewer). He’s also limited walks to one in each of his last four outings, showing improved command. After some tough-luck results earlier, he picked up his second win. His season line now reads: seven starts, 39 2/3 innings, 2-2, 3.40 ERA.
▲ Kwak Bin ⓒ Doosan Bears
Kwak retired the side in order in the first. In the second, he allowed an infield single to Lim Byung-wook but retired the next three hitters. In the third, he gave up a leadoff single to Song Ji-hoo and then worked out of the inning by getting the next three batters.
The fourth inning brought Doosan’s only trouble. With two outs and nobody on, Trenton Brooks singled to right. Facing Yang Hyeon-jong on the first pitch, Kwak hung a 150 km/h (93.2 mph) cutter that Yang drove for an opposite-field, two-run homer that traveled about 120 meters (394 feet). That cut the deficit to 5-2 on Yang’s first career homer. Kwak closed the frame by striking out Kwon Hyuk-bin swinging.
In the fifth, after Song’s left-center single, Kwak retired the next three hitters on routine outs. The sixth started with Ahn Chi-hong’s single to left, then Lim Byung-wook struck out on a three-pitch at-bat, Brooks struck out looking, and Yang drew a walk to put runners at first and second with two outs. With his pitch count at 105, Kwak wanted to finish the inning. He attacked Kwon Hyuk-bin with a fastball on the second pitch and induced a pitcher’s grounder to end the frame.
▲ Kwak Bin ⓒ Choi Won-young
Manager Kim Won-hyung praised Kwak’s approach, saying he trusted his stuff and attacked the zone, showing the demeanor of an ace. Kim added that he hopes Kwak carries the confidence gained from minimizing free passes over the past four games.
After the game, Kwak said the early run support allowed him to pitch more comfortably and that he was grateful the team won the game he started. Reflecting on the sixth inning, he said that after issuing a walk, coach Jeong Jae-hoon told him it was the last batter and he wanted to be responsible for the frame. He admitted relievers had thrown a lot this week and that he’d even toyed with the idea of going into the seventh or eighth, so he was disappointed he didn’t manage his pitch count better. Still, he was relieved to finish the inning and said he didn’t feel his strength drop — he just emptied the tank for that final batter.
▲ Kwak Bin ⓒ Doosan Bears
Stringing together five straight QSs is encouraging. Kwak acknowledged he’d often pitched well in the past but failed to reach a fifth straight QS; this time he wanted to break that trend. He said he wasn’t chasing a stat, but as a starter he feels it’s his job to carry the game into the sixth or seventh inning so the bullpen can rest.
Kwak downplayed win totals. Even when he tied for the KBO lead with 15 wins in 2024, he said he didn’t always feel he’d pitched his best in those games. He focuses more on innings and ERA than on decisions — as long as the team wins when he’s on the mound, the individual win is secondary.
He thanked teammates and coaches for helping generate offense when he pitches, saying they’ve been vocal about scoring when he’s on the bump.
Kwak also said he’s not chasing velocity. He’d rather locate pitches on the edges of the strike zone than try to hit 160 km/h (99.4 mph). That borderline command is what gives him a thrill.
▲ Kwak Bin ⓒ Doosan Bears
Kwak pitched in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in early March and returned determined to be more aggressive on the mound. His walk rate has dropped significantly; he said he’s never intentionally issued a walk and has been working since last year to shore up his weaknesses and build a more complete game.
Several WBC participants have suffered injuries this season, and Kwak admitted he’s felt some fatigue at times, especially preparing on a five-day turn. He credited the training staff for careful management, saying their support has helped him maintain his routine and perform well.
Doosan went 4-2 this week and has momentum. Kwak said he believes in the team’s strength. Despite a few disappointing losses, if the team trusts itself and executes, they can climb the standings. He stressed that if the players who need to produce do their jobs, Doosan won’t stay satisfied with its current position and should continue moving up.
