Military behind him, Jang concentrates on pitching

CEDAR RAPIDS - It was well over an hour after Monday afternoon's game at Veterans Memorial Stadium, and Piljoon Jang was nowhere to be found.

You knew he was somewhere at the park because his shoes and clothes were still at his dressing stall. But he wasn't doing strength exercises with the other Cedar Rapids Kernels pitchers, wasn't in the shower, wasn't lounging around and watching television in the clubhouse.

“Aw, he's probably out on the field running,” a teammate finally surmised. “Dude runs all the time.”

That's exactly where Jang was, stretching out after a 25-minute postgame jog around the outfield. Keep in mind this was after he threw 7 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run in the Kernels' 2-1, 10-inning win over Peoria.

“Running is good for your body,” he said in fine English. “It helps flush my body (out). So that's why I like running a lot.”

The 23-year-old South Korean is used to hard work. He spent two years in the country's army before signing a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2008, including a bonus of a reported $550,000.

Every Korean male has a two-year military obligation he must fulfill. Jang decided he would do his time before beginning a professional baseball career.

“Korean players in the USA minor leagues have one big problem,” he said. “That's the army, the military. Everybody has to go for two years. I was trying to get here (to pro ball), that's why I didn't want to make any trouble. I thought ‘Let's go to the army first. Then I can concentrate on my baseball.'”

Jang, from the city of Daewoo, said his experience wasn't as bad as some because it combined military and sports. He thinks it actually made him a better pitcher, one that was more attractive to major league clubs.

The right-hander doesn't have a big fastball (mid to upper-80s) but located it well Monday, changing speeds and keeping Peoria's hitters off balance. It was Jang's fourth start for the Kernels (39-49, 7-11 second half) since being sent to them from Rookie-level Orem.

“Oh, man. Jang was on,” said catcher Marcus Nidiffer, who lined a two-out single into the left-field corner to score Justin Bass from second base with the winning run. “That's how he can pitch, right there. He locates his fastball, has a changeup any time he wants it, a curveball any time he wants it. The main thing was he located his fastball, had confidence with it, no matter what batter was up.”

Cedar Rapids scored the tying run in the eighth on a Nidiffer sacrifice fly. Bass and David Harris walked with one out in the ninth against losing pitcher Patrick Francescon, then Nidiffer came through, pulling a 2-2 offspeed pitch up in the zone.

"Just trying to protect and put the bat on the ball with two strikes," he said.

The Kernels host

Bowling Green for three games, beginning Wednesday.