Whether it's a true story of career performance or an all-time finish beyond Sun Dong-yeol, why is it shaking only in Incheon

Jun 21, 2025

Whether it's a true story of career performance or an all-time finish beyond Sun Dong-yeol, why is it shaking only in Incheon
A match between SSG and KIA at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 21st. KIA closer Jung Hae-young, who is replaced after two runs and a blon save in the bottom of the ninth inning. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.06.21/



Jung Hae-young is the most reliable pitcher in the KIA Tigers bullpen.

Since his professional debut as a high school graduate in 2020, he has finished in his second year. Good fastball power and bold personality became the basis for playing a good role as a closing pitcher even at the young age of 20.

Jung Hae-young, who made 34 saves in his first year as the closing pitcher, played a great role as a professional closing pitcher who also led the team's integrated victory last year. He made 139 saves in total until the 21st, and even broke the record of Sun Dong-yeol 'senior'.




Jung Hae-young made a save in the first game of a doubleheader against the Doosan Bears in Gwangju on May 17 with one scoreless inning, setting a new record for the most saves by the Tigers with 133 saves in total. The previous record was 132 saves for Sun Dong-yeol, who is considered the Tigers' permanent absence and the best pitcher in history.

Whether it's a true story of career performance or an all-time finish beyond Sun Dong-yeol, why is it shaking only in Incheon
A match between SSG and KIA at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 21st. KIA's pitching Jung Hae-young. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.06.21/
Of course, it is difficult to make a very objective comparison because Sun Dong-yeol played as a professional finisher in the second half of his career while playing as a starter and bullpen. However, it was significant that Jung Hae-young, who is only 24 years old, wrote a new history of the club, which no one but Sun Dong-yeol has encountered, and failed to develop a finishing pitcher that will remain in history.

From the team's point of view, Jung Hae-young's presence is clear. Even if there are ups and downs in the pace so far, it is calculated in the operation of the bullpen that continues to play a finishing role without major injuries and long-term departures.




However, there is a stadium that Jung Hae-young finds particularly difficult. It is Incheon Munhak Stadium. SSG Landers Field.

Jung Hae-young took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning with KIA leading 5-3 in the game against SSG Landers at Landers Field on the 21st. The first batter, Seok Jung-woo, was grounded out to third base to get one out, but the next batter was a problem.

Whether it's a true story of career performance or an all-time finish beyond Sun Dong-yeol, why is it shaking only in Incheon
A game between SSG and KIA at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 21st. In the bottom of the ninth inning, SSG Han Yoo-sum hit a timely RBI single to KIA Jeong Hae-young. a delightful island of Han Yu-seom. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.06.21/
Jihoon Choi shook Jung Hae-young as he was safe at first base with a surprise bunt hit, and gave up consecutive hits to Oh Tae-gon. A timely RBI single to Guillermo Herredia. Now trailing by one point, Jung Hae-young even gave up a timely hit to Han Yu-sum. In an instant, Blon's save was recorded by allowing four consecutive hits, and when the ball went into the first pitch against Jung Joon-jae, the KIA bench eventually lowered Jung Hae-young from the mound.




It was inevitable that the closing pitcher could not finish the inning and went down in a Blon save situation. After twists and turns, the game ended with a 5-5 draw in the 11th inning.

Jung Hae-young has a lot of bad memories on the away trip to Incheon. In April last year, Choi Jung allowed his 467th career tie solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Han Yu-sum even allowed a walk-off home run, leaving bitter traces of a 4-6 shock upset.

Whether it's a true story of career performance or an all-time finish beyond Sun Dong-yeol, why is it shaking only in Incheon
A match between SSG and KIA at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 21st. KIA closer Jung Hae-young, who is replaced after two runs and a blon save in the bottom of the ninth inning. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.06.21/
The actual record tells us. Jung Hae-young's career ERA is 2.86, but his career ERA at Munhak Stadium is 8.10, overwhelmingly among the stadiums where he has pitched more than five games.

Of the 14 games, there were no wins, and there were only three losses and only two saves. This is in stark contrast to his performance in most away games, including 12 saves with 3 wins and 1 hold at Jamsil, 10 saves at Sajik Stadium in Busan, and 11 saves at Changwon.

For each player, there are some stadiums that fit well with them, and there are others that do not fit well. It is a strange flow of qi that cannot be explained by data alone. The same goes for Jung Hae-young.

However, that does not mean that the closing pitcher, the team's core bullpen, cannot be chosen from the away game in Incheon. It is a homework for Jung Hae-young, who has more remaining appearances than he has so far, to solve on his own.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.