By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The pitchers who were marvelous freshmen in 1992 are now heading toward the twilight of their careers.
Among that triumvirate, Lim Sun-dong of the Hyundai Unicorns, Cho Sung-min of the Hanwha Eagles and Park Chan-ho of the Houston Astros have struggled with frustrating subpar performances dropping them to the second-tier leagues.
Right-hander Lim, 34, branded as the next ``Sun Dong-yol,'' led his contemporaries in college. The big-framed hurler was known for good command with his fastball and capability to manage a game. He entered Yonsei University and continued showing off his prowess.
As a result, he signed with Japan's Daiei Hawks, the predecessor of the Softbank Hawks, in 1995. But the LG Twins, which had selected him as their priority pick, opposed the transaction and the two sides went to court. Each team of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) chooses a player who is going to graduate from high school in the draft. The court was in favor of the pitcher, but the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), which worried about the relationship with the KBO, did not allow him to register to the league.
Helpless, Lim signed with the Hyundai Phoenix, an amateur team, for 700 million won ($740,000) and finally joined the Twins in 1997. He won 11 games in the first year, but was limited to one victory the next season.
After the two-year stint with the Seoul-based team, Lim was traded to the Hyundai Unicorns. In 2000, he led the league with 18 wins and compiled 14 in 2001. But since 2003, he has not picked up a win.
``After the season, we will rebuild the team. Lim will not be able to get a chance on the Unicorns,'' Unicorns manager Kim Si-jin said.
He finds himself likely to retire from baseball because he has not pitched in the minors since May, and no team will recruit him.
Right-handed Cho also finds himself in the same situation as his former rival.
After his graduation from Korea University, he joined the prestigious Yomiuri Giants in 1996. For four years, he had accumulated an 11-10 record with 11 saves and his ERA was 2.84, before suffering an elbow injury.
However, he returned to the mound with the Eagles in 2005 and has a 3-4 record with a 5.09 ERA.
After throwing on June 29, he was demoted to the second-tier league, but his pitching is not as strong as it once was, and his speed also declined.
``He knows how to manage the game, but his ball strength is a problem,'' Eagles manager Kim In-sic said.
The context is deteriorating to him because the Eagles will add 13 new players _ six rookies and seven discharged from military service _ which means 13 current members should be dropped.
South Korea's first Major Leaguer, Park, who was less spotlighted but far more successful than his contemporaries, also faces a career-threatening slump.
The 113-game winner had only one chance to pitch in the big leagues and it's uncertain if he'll make it back to the Major Leagues.
Now, Park plays in Triple-A with a record of 6-13 and a 6.09 ERA.
He also admits he cannot return to his predominant form.
``My legend is over,'' he said.