Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong

May 26, 2025

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
A game between the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Stadium on the 14th. Kiwoom players who lost are disappointed. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.14/



Where did it go wrong.

In the KBO League, which was launched in 1982, there is inevitably a 'last place team' every year. A team that falls at the bottom for various reasons, whether it is weak, injured, or internal discord. Still, no team has lost 100 games in a season.

It has not even reached the halfway point of the 2025 season yet. However, it is said that the bottom has already been decided. There is also a cold view that it will cause a league imbalance and adversely affect the box office. It's about Kiwoom Heroes.




Kiwoom lost all six consecutive home games last week. He was swept back-to-back by the Samsung Lions and KT Wiz. He has lost seven games in a row. His winning rate is 255. There are 10 games between the 9th-ranked Doosan Bears and the 9th-ranked Doosan Bears. There are 11 games between the first-place LG Twins and the ninth-place Doosan, and the difference between the ninth and 10th places is 10 games, showing how serious it is.

It completely collapsed in May. Of the 22 games played in May, only three have won. Of course, there is no winning streak, and there is no winning series.

There are 144 games in a season. Arithmetically, Kiwoom will lose 107 games this season. He is on the verge of being disgraced as the first team to lose 100.




A baseball official lamented, `How can we tell the team to play baseball when we don't let all the main players go and throw away the players we can protect.'

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
The Hanwha-Kium match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 9th. Moussa Puig is celebrating with Song Sung-moon after hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gocheok = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.5.5.9/
Kiwoom is at the bottom for the third consecutive year if it comes in last this season.

However, just three years ago, it was the team that reached the 2022 Korean Series. Until then, it was not abundant, but the front desk's microscope scout and the field's mercenary skills that brought out the maximum players' cohesion were harmonized and reigned as a strong team.




But it was also one moment when the team broke down. Kim Ha-sung (Tampa Bay), Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco), and Kim Hye-sung (LA Dodgers) have left for the Major League. Apart from the posting compensation, the players' dreams are connected, so I can't say anything about it so far.

But we had to keep at least the Maginot Line. Since the main players have escaped, they have been trying to raise money and the right to nominate rookies for the third year, saying they will use it as an opportunity to rebuild. In the meantime, two key mound cards, Choi Won-tae (LG) and Cho Sang-woo (KIA), left the team. Ahn Woo-jin and Kim Jae-woong also joined the military, so the team's power was bound to weaken.

The worst really happened after last season. Last year, Kiwoom was able to make its reputation as a strong last place because it had a clear one-two punch Furado and Heyesus. On top of that, Ha Young-min worked hard and the three starters turned stable, so other teams couldn't push Kiwoom.

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
Samsung-Kium match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th. Furado is greeting the Kiwoom team, his former team. Gocheok = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.5.20/
However, he suddenly gave up re-signing Hurado and Heyesus, who have the right to hold. I didn't say exactly why, but it would have been a matter of money after all. They would have wanted a salary increase because they performed well, but Kiwoom was not willing to accept it from the beginning. It must have been a thought to save money in a hopeless season anyway.

At the same time, it was two foreign hitters who took out the worst cards. The logic was plausible. 'Furado, you're in last place even with Heysus, so shouldn't you do something to break this mess?' But it was 'Lighted Apricot'. No team can survive if the starting rotation does not work properly in a long-term race. To make matters worse, the ambitious Puig, Cardinez, was simply 'Devastated'.

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
The NC-KT match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 9th. Starting pitcher KT Heyesus is pitching in the rain. Suwon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.4.9/
Furado is playing the `happy baseball' with Samsung and Heysus being treated as the ace at KT.

I only did other people's good things. Strengthening the power of other teams leads to weakening of our team's power.

The actual worst-case scenario is unfolding. He is only doing good things for others. When they meet Kiwoom, the opposing teams are busy building wins. If Rosenberg and Ha Young-min come together, the opponent sets a basic goal of catching one of the two games and winning the other to play the winning series. Win all the games with two people, or the series without two people aims for a sweep. This is the scary reality Kiwoom faces.

Kiwoom belatedly admitted the failure of two batters and decided to bring pitcher Alcantara. But it was late. The players are steeped in a sense of defeat. It is hard to expect Alcantara, who has failed at the Doosan Bears due to an elbow injury last year, to suddenly pitch 'Ponse (Hanwha) class'.

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
A game between Kiwoom and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 3rd, Kiwoom Lee Ju-hyung hits a hit with one out and one base in the top of the 6th inning. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.04.03/
It's already been three years since I shouted rebuilding, but there's no big player. Lee Ju-hyung, who shined after the trade, is in a slump, and Kim Yun-ha, who is in the second year, has nine losses in 10 games. Since last year, rookies who have given opportunities have been spending time in and out of the first and second divisions.

Rookie of the season alone has recruited countless infield prospects, but no player is keeping his position for sure. If the final excavation of Joo Seung-woo is a harvest, is it a harvest.

Ahead of this season, he was rather eager to collect the release students. It's like admitting to yourself that it's hard to even make up the team's power to play the season right away. In the meantime, veterans such as Lee Won-seok, Won Jong-hyun, and Lee Hyung-jong, who were caught by FA and multi-year contracts, are closed or sluggish, so there is no answer. There is no direction. He hoped for a fluke to endure without investment, but he is going to make an unprecedented history of losing 100.

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
Samsung-Kium match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th. Won Jong-hyun is coming down the mound in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on the first and second bases. Gocheok = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.5.20/
The scene is upsetting. Even if the power to fight is formed, it is difficult for the professional stage to do so, but it only falls into the quagmire more and more with an unanswered power. Coach Hong Won-ki is one of the coaches who does not receive much criticism from fans. These days, fans have a high knowledge of baseball, so they know everything about the team's internal situation. It is not a matter to blame the on-site coach who is struggling to do something with empty hands and is struggling with the season.

Sell all the players, let them go, and fight empty-handed. The first 100 losses, abnormal rebuilding, where did it go wrong
Dusan-Kium match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 22nd. Kiwoom won 5-4 with a sweat. Director Hong Won-ki is greeting his fans. Gocheok = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.4.22/
What matters is next year. Ace Ahn Woo-jin returns from his mandatory military service this year. Normal operation will be possible from next year. It is a rebuilding that Ahn Woo-jin carried out in time for the coming year. However, there are only questions about whether Ahn Woo-jin will change significantly when he comes. Baseball is not a sport played by Ahn Woo-jin alone. There are talks about whether Song Sung-moon, who will become an FA after next season, can be caught.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.