KIA Tigers infielder Byun Woo-hyuk hit the best home run in baseball’s life. 먹튀검증
Byun started as the seventh batter and first baseman in the last of three consecutive weekend games against the Kiwoom Heroes of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 28th. He had two hits (one homer) and an RBI single run from four times at bat on the day, contributing to Kia’s 4-3 victory.
Byun Woo-hyuk’s bat, which had remained silent, exploded mid-to-late games. After finishing the game with one out in the top of the fifth inning, he hit a double off Kiwoom starter Enmanuel de Heysus to warm up the game. Then, he garnered a cool home run in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning when the game was tight 3-3, he hit a 130-meter solo shot (season No. 2) that landed in the stands on the left field by hitting a two-seam fastball by Kim Sung-min. With this score, Kia led the game 4-3, and two consecutive home runs by Kim Sun-bin and Byun Woo-hyuk also stirred the mood.
“Byeon Woo-hyuk’s come-from-behind final home run allowed us to put an end to a difficult game,” KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said after the game. “I think his active swing resulted in a good result.”
Byun Woo-hyuk, who was considered one of the most valuable players, told reporters, “I was aiming for a breaking ball throughout the game, but I think it would have been obvious. I wasn’t hitting a fastball in the middle. I thought the opposite.” “I aimed for a fastball at the first pitch without any pressure because (Kim) Sun-bin tied the game.”
“(The thrill of a home run) is the best. Last year, we had the final home run, but all of them came out early in the game. If it’s a home game, that was the best part because this could be a walk-off home run. If we lost by today (28th), the situation could have been bad even if there was a gap in the game, so I’m happy about that.”
This year, Byun has a batting average of 0.281 (25 hits in 89 at-bats) and two homers and seven RBIs in 33 games (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.764. Lee Woo-sung, the main first baseman, has left the post due to a hamstring tendon injury. Temporary, not regular, but temporary, as Lee has experience in practical games in the Futures League, which is why his at-bats in the rest of the games are precious to Byun. He should prove his worth when he can show off his performance.
Byun Woo-hyuk said, “Even though I didn’t get the opportunity well, I thought I would continue to do well because the coach sent me out. That thought alone didn’t produce results, so when I played, I tried to empty my mind as much as possible,” and added, “My position is not yet the main player. When I come to situations where the team needs me, such as first baseman, third baseman, and backup, I just have to show what I have. I’m thinking about that. I’m not yet the main player, but I think I’m going to do my best as a backup.”
Finally, Byun expressed his gratitude to his colleague who helped him manage his mental health. “Today, (Kim) Do-young said, ‘Don’t set the timing too soon.’ Socrates Brito also said, ‘He says things that help me a lot when it comes to timing and mentally. I well thought of that.”
