▲ South Korean starting pitcher Kwak Been pitches fiercely during the final match against Japan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at the Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 27th.
"I want to give myself 100 points this time."
Kwak Been (27, Doosan Bears), who usually plays down his performance even when selected as the MVP of the game, made this remark after finishing the final against Japan yesterday (the 27th).
Kwak washed away the disappointment of not being able to step onto the mound even once during the Asian Games three years ago through this tournament.
On this day, at the Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in the baseball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games against Japan, Kwak pitched 6.1 innings, striking out 9 batters, allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks, and giving up just 1 run, leading the team to a 3-1 victory.
Meeting with reporters after the match, Kwak said, "While preparing for the game, my body temperature rises and my heart rate needs to beat a bit faster. However, because it was raining and the weather was cold, it didn't go well." He added, "So when I saw my pitches in the first inning, I actually worried a lot. But So Hyung-jun and pitching coach Choi Won-ho told me from the dugout, 'Don't worry about it, just think positively,' which helped me."
On this day, Kwak freely commanded powerful fastballs nearing 155 km/h, and demonstrated his strikeout ability during crises to complete South Korea's fifth consecutive Asian Games baseball title.
He threw 111 pitches, just 2 pitches shy of his season-high 113 pitches in the KBO League this season (against the Samsung Lions on July 26).
Although he pitched a flawless game through the 6th inning, he eventually gave up a run in the bottom of the 7th.
With 1 out and a runner on first, he allowed a hit to Shohei Mizutani, and subsequently gave up an RBI single to left field to Yuki Sato with 1 out and runners on first and second.
Having done his job, Kwak took off his cap with a regretful expression and brushed his hair back as he walked off the mound.
In the process, he was captured on broadcast cameras wiping the corners of his eyes.
When asked if he had shed tears, he strongly denied it, saying, "No, no," drawing laughter.
Having recorded 6 hitless and scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts against Taiwan in the first game of the group stage of this tournament, Kwak finished with 12.1 innings pitched, 1 run allowed, and 19 strikeouts across two appearances up to the final.
For Kwak, this gold medal also carries the meaning of washing away the disappointment of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held three years ago.
At the tournament back then, he failed to appear in a single game due to back spasms.
Thinking of Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles), who took on the heavy burden on the mound in his place, Kwak said, "I still feel sorry and grateful. I think I overcame that role really well this time, so the lingering regret in my heart has somewhat been lifted."
He added, "Since the young players are truly young, I think their potential is huge. I firmly believe that if you cheer for them with one mind rather than reproach them, South Korean baseball will develop even further."
Having faithfully fulfilled the mission assigned to him, Kwak now returns to his club team to prepare for autumn baseball.
On this day, Doosan lost 6-12 to the KT Wiz, sitting in 5th place in the league with 67 wins, 5 draws, and 63 losses.
Kwak said, "I think our team can almost make it to autumn baseball. The most important thing is to finish the remaining games without injuries. I will recover quickly and prepare well to be of maximum help to the team."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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