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| KIA won the game between Hanwha and KIA at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on the 8th, and Hanwha Noh Si-hwan's bad pitch with one out and runners on the first and second bases in the bottom of the 10th inning of overtime. KIA players share the joy of victory with Ko Jong-wook. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.06.08/ |
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In fact, the 50% win rate is a miracle. KIA Tigers, who are holding up well, are now entering the countdown to a month of fate.
There are especially many injured players this season. KIA's regular-season opener and nearly half of its current starting lineup are filled with other players.
KIA's starting lineup for the opening game is Park Chan-ho (striker)~KIM DO YOUNG (third baseman)Na Sung Beom (Woo Ik Soo)Patrick Wisdom (first baseman)Choi Hyungwoo (designated hitter)Kim Sun Bin (second baseman)Lee Woosung (left-winger)Kim Tae-gun (capture)Choi Won-joon (center fielder). Among them, Kim Do-young, Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin and Lee Woo-sung are currently absent from the first-team entry. Almost half of the players were missing from the pre-season 'Best 9', and at one point more than half were missing.
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| KIA-KT match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 21st. Kim Sun-bin entered the batter's box in the top of the third inning. Suwon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.5.21/ |
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Some players went down to the second division due to poor performance, but most of them are injuries. In particular, the injury of key resources Kim Do-young, Na Sung-bum and Kim Sun-bin is still painful. On top of that, Lee Eui-ri, who is about to return from surgery, Hwang Dong-ha, who suffered a traffic accident, and Kwak Do-kyu, who is out of the season with Tommy John Surgery confirmed at the beginning of the season. There were many injuries, both large and small. Even Yoon Do-hyun, who showed good performance as an alternative resource, was recently injured due to a broken finger. I endured it with my gums without teeth, and even that gums are inflamed.
It's the season with the most injuries ever, but it's holding up well nonetheless. KIA is currently operating to hold out while maintaining a 50% winning rate. The team ranking is seventh (as of the 16th), but it is only three games apart from Lotte, which is third place, so once it gains momentum, the ranking can fluctuate as much as possible. The requirements are met just by not slipping in the ranking competition and holding out well.
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| The match between Hanwha and KIA at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on the 6th, KIA won 3-2. Yoon Young-chul, who won his first victory of the season, is sharing his joy with coach Lee Bum-ho. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.06.06/ |
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It is hopeful that substitute players such as Yoon Do-hyun, Oh Sun-woo, Kim Ho-ryeong and Kim Kyu-sung, who were unfortunately injured, are doing their best to fill the vacancy. Director Lee Bum-ho showed that friends like Do-hyun and Sun-woo are competitive enough. Sunwoo can play outfield as well as first base. If they do this, I can have a better time next year"I saw hope. Even if injured players return, it is optimistic that the team depth will be solid because the players who have been classified as backup or prospects have spent time competing in the first team.
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| In the game between Hanwha and KIA at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on the 8th, KIA Oh Sun-woo hit a come-from-behind two-run home run against Hanwha Ponce in the bottom of the first inning and is sharing joy with Yoon Do-hyun. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.06.08/ |
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Regarding Kim Ho-ryeong, who has had a hard time in the second division, who is now a veteran, head coach Lee Bum-ho said, `As he plays as a main player, he seems more motivated than before. There was a part where I was a little discouraged because I mainly focused on defense, but now I'm really trying to hit it somehow because I'm trying to relieve my desire to go out and play. I'm satisfied enough with the current level of hitting."
Now KIA has to hold out for another month. Injured players return one by one, but all are focused on the start of the second half after the All-Star break. Depending on how you hold out until then, you can build momentum to hit the second half. Other team managers are also wary of what kind of performance KIA will show in the second half after returning to the injured.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
