Can Jang Hyun-sik (29), “KIA Tigers’ Madangsoe”, become the biggest bullpen pitcher in the FA market?
Jang Hyun-sik wore the NC Dinos uniform as the ninth overall pick in the first round in the 2013 rookie draft, but he did not grow as much as he expected. Although he received opportunities between starting pitchers and bullpen sessions, he recorded an ERA of four or more points (4.48-5.29-7.42-4.61) for four consecutive seasons from the 2016 season to the 2019 season.
With his stagnant growth, Jang joined Kia through a 2-2 trade in August 2020. This marks a turning point in his career. Jang has become a must-win group for Kia with one win, five losses and an earned run average of 3.29 with 34 holds in 69 games during the 2021 season. As he ranked first in the hold category, he became the first hold king in the Tigers’ history.
During the 2022 season, Jang also showed stellar performance in 54 games, including two wins, three losses and one save, with an ERA of 3.12, with 19 holds. In the 2023 season, he slowed down to two wins, two losses and five holds with an ERA of 4.06 in 56 games due to surgery to remove bone fragments in his elbow, but rebounded in the 2024 season. Jang, who served as Kia’s must-winner along with Jeon Sang-hyun, Kwak Do-gyu, and Jeong Hae-young, recorded five wins, four losses and an ERA of 3.94 with 16 holds in 75 games during the regular season. While playing 75 ⅓ innings, he played the role of “madangsoe.”
The highlight was the Korean Series. Jang, who took the mound in the entire Korean Series against the Samsung Lions, did not yield a single point through Games 1 to 5. As KIA defeated the Samsung Lions by four wins and one loss, Jang acquired his first Korean Series title ring.
Jang Hyun-sik is likely to apply for FA in the stove league. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the list of qualified FA players for 2025 on the 2nd, including Jang Hyun-sik’s name. Jang Hyun-sik was classified as B grade. 스포츠토토
In addition to Jang Hyun-sik, Lotte Giants’ Kim Won-joong, Koo Seung-min, SSG Landers Noh Kyung-eun and Seo Jin-yong will qualify as FA in the FA market. In particular, Kim Won-joong, who has the most saves (132 saves) in Lotte’s history, and Koo Seung-min, who achieved the club’s first 100 holds, are considered the biggest fish in the bullpen.
However, there is also a chance that Jang will emerge as a more attractive offering than Kim Won-joong and Koo Seung-min. For one, Jang is younger than Kim Won-joong and Koo Seung-min. Jang, who was born in 1995 and is 29 years younger than Kim Won-joong, who was born in 1993. He is a whopping five years younger than Koo Seung-min, who was born in 1990. At an age when he is in his prime, he could attract attention from other clubs.
The most decisive factor is that Jang Hyun-sik is B-grade, unlike A-grade players Kim Won-joong and Koo Seung-min. The compensation rule for A-grade players is 200 percent of their previous year’s salary, plus 20 protected players, or 300 percent of their previous year’s salary. In contrast, A-grade players are 100 percent of their previous year’s salary, plus 25 protected players, or 200 percent of their previous year’s salary. Compensation is relatively less burdensome than A-grade players.
Interest in the size of Jang Hyun-sik’s contract, which has much more favorable conditions in the FA grade, is growing.
