NC Dinos’ ‘Super Ace’ Eric Peddy achieved the feat of achieving 20 wins and 200 strikeouts in a single season at the same time for the 5th time in 37 years and 5th time since Sun Dong-yeol (then Haitai Tigers) in 1986. Because of this, he also turned on the green light in the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title.
Peddie started the home game against the Hanwha Eagles in the 2023 Professional Baseball KBO League held at Changwon NC Park on the 10th and pitched 91 balls, going 6 innings with 7 hits, 1 out, 6 strikeouts, and no runs. 안전놀이터
With the team leading 2-0, he passed the ball to follow-up pitcher Lim Jeong-ho, and NC went on to win 2-0, earning his 20th win (6 losses) of the season. Peddie, who had 198 strikeouts before this game, also easily surpassed the 200-strikeout mark (currently 204 strikeouts) by adding 6 more.
As a result, Peddie became the fifth player in 37 years and the fifth overall to achieve 20 wins and 200 strikeouts at the same time since Sun Dong-yeol in 1986. Previously, the late Jang Myeong-bu in 1983 (Sammi Superstars, 30 wins, 220 strikeouts), the late Choi Dong-won in 1984 (Lotte Giants, 27 wins, 223 strikeouts), Kim Si-jin in 1985 (Samsung Lions, 25 wins, 201 strikeouts), and Dong-yeol Sun in 1986 ( Only Haitai (24 wins, 214 strikeouts) has recorded this record. If we narrow the scope to only foreign players, Peddie is the first.
Peddie, who joined NC ahead of this season, has established himself as the best ace in the KBO League with a powerful fastball reaching a maximum speed of mid-150km and a sharp sweeper. In August, he faltered for a while with 2 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 4.50, but he immediately found his glory, and finally, on this day, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the KBO League legends.
From the beginning of the first inning, Peddie showed off his overwhelming pitching ability. He struck out leadoff hitter Choi In-ho with a missed swing. He hit a right-handed hit to the follow-up batter, Moon Hyun-bin, but induced Noh Si-hwan into a double play at shortstop. In the top of the second inning, he gave up an infield hit to shortstop to Nick Williams, but after a four-pitch match against Chae Eun-seong, he used a 151km two-seamer and struck out on a missed swing. It was the 16th 200-strikeout moment in KBO League history.
Peddie, who finished the inning with no runs by handling both Myung-ki Lee and Jin-young Lee with left field flyouts, also showed off his crisis management skills in the top of the third inning. Choi Jae-hoon’s hit to right-center, Lee Do-yoon’s sacrifice bunt, and Choi In-ho’s left-center hit put them on first and third base with one out, but shortstop Hyun-bin Moon tied it up with a double play.
The NC batting line, which had been silent, helped Peddy score in the bottom of the third inning with Son Ah-seop’s walk and Choi Jeong-won’s hit to left, followed by Jason Martin’s two RBI double to left.
With his shoulders feeling much lighter, Peddie continued cruising in the top of the fourth inning. He struck out Noh Si-hwan. Williams allowed a hit to right-center field, but Chae Eun-seong and Lee Myeong-ki got a fly out to center field and a strikeout, respectively. In the top of the 5th inning, Lee Jin-young and Choi Jae-hoon were struck out with a ground ball to first base, and then gave Lee Do-yoon a heavy hit, but led Choi In-ho to a ground ball to second base.
Peddy, who was on the mound in the top of the 6th inning, struck out Moon Hyun-bin and then hit Noh Si-hwan with a double to left-center. Williams’ ground ball to second base and Chae Eun-seong’s walk put the runners on first and third base with two outs, but he completed his mission by blocking Myung-gi Lee’s ground ball to first base. Afterwards, Lim Jeong-ho (1 inning, no runs), Ryu Jin-wook (1 inning, no runs), and Lee Yong-chan (1 inning, no runs) finished the game without allowing any runs, putting Peddy on the verge of a record.
After the game, Fedi said through the club, “I am happy that we were able to achieve the record. Today’s 20-win record was not something that could have been achieved alone. “I think we achieved it thanks to all my teammates, including the defense and bullpen,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone who helped me, including my family.”
With this victory, NC recorded 73 wins, 2 draws, and 64 losses, and tied for 3rd place with SSG Landers (73 wins, 2 draws, 64 losses), continuing the fierce battle for rankings. After taking a short break due to shoulder fatigue after the match against Hanwha in Daejeon on the 1st (6 innings, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, no decision), Feddy, who led the team to victory with a great record that day, said, “I am very satisfied because I played a good game after resting well during the break. “I’m happy that we were able to set a record,” he said, adding strength to his voice, adding, “I’m not sure what the teams in the rankings think of NC, but I’ll work hard to prepare so that they can feel even more of a sense of crisis.”
Meanwhile, Fedi lowered his ERA to 2.06 with this excellent pitch. If he can maintain this lead until the end of the season, as he is currently leading in most wins, strikeouts, and earned run average, he will surpass Dong-yeol Sun (1986, 1989-1991, Haitai), Hyun-jin Ryu (2006, then Hanwha), and Seok-min Yoon (2011, KIA Tigers). Lee becomes the fourth and first foreign player to achieve the triple crown.
These achievements could be a factor that puts Peddie one step ahead in the MVP competition. Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha), who is leading the division with 31 home runs and 99 RBIs, is considered the strongest opponent, but it does not seem easy to surpass Peddy. Peddie is expected to start about one more game in the future.