The KIA Tigers, who went straight to the Korean Series for the first time in seven years, are looking forward to a record party in the remaining seven regular league games.
First of all, attention is being paid to Kim Do-young’s move to challenge 40 home runs and 40 steals for the second time in KBO league history and the first time in Korea.
As of the 17th, Kim Do-young had 37 home runs and 39 stolen bases, leaving three home runs and one stolen base to achieve the milestone.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho also helps Kim Do-young’s great challenge.
In an interview after confirming the top spot in the regular league, Kim Do-young said, “Coach (Lee Bum-ho) told me to play confidently in three balls because I had a little time to spare, so I’m playing more comfortably at bat,” adding, “I don’t think there will be much difference in the future, and if I pay attention to detail, I think I’ll get a good result.”
Manager Lee said he may adjust the batting order so that Kim Do-young takes the batter’s box more often.
Kim surpassed Kim Sang-hyun (36) in 2009 and broke the Tigers’ record for the most homers in a season for batters in Korea. If he hits 40, he will tie the Tigers’ record for the most homers in a season for batters, which was left by Tracey Sanders in 1999.
In the KBO League, Eric Thames, who played for the NC Dinos, scored 47 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 2015, pioneering the 40-40 club for the first time.
In 2009, Kia ranked No. 1 ahead of the last regular season league game. In 2017, Kia won the direct ticket to the Korean Series only on the final day of the regular season league.
Unlike then, this time, he confirmed the first place with seven games left, leaving room to “take care of” the players’ records.
Yang Hyun-jong, a pillar of KIA’s mound, will pitch 170 innings for the 10th consecutive year if he throws three more ⅔ in his next appearance.
Among Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles), Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers), and Yang Hyun-jong left-hander Troika in his late 30s, Yang Hyun-jong showed the most consistent performance this year. 스포츠토토
Yang Hyun-jong kept his rotation silent by winning 11 games and taking the mound in 28 games even if there was a big hole in the team’s starting lineup, but Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun suffered big and small ups and downs.
Yang Hyun-jong, who showed great attachment to pitching innings, an indicator that symbolizes the responsibility and duty of starting pitchers, will soon set up a gold tower of 170 innings for the first 10 consecutive years in the KBO league.
Jung Hae-young booked the relief king for the first time in 26 years with the Tigers finishing.
Jung Hae-young made 30 saves, widening the gap with Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung Lions, 27 saves) to three.
Jung Hae-young, who made 30 saves in a season for the third time since he took over as the closing pitcher in 2021, has grown into the league’s representative firefighter, setting a new record of 100 saves in his career.
If he makes more saves in the rest of the game, Jung Hae-young will become the relief king for the first time in 26 years as a Tigers player since Lim Chang-yong in 1998.
