KIA's Special Measures ERA 7.71 Closer First Team Entry Cancelled...I was shocked by the two-day losing streak
Aug 17, 2025
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Prior to the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 17th, KIA took special measures to send closer Jung Hae-young to the second division. Jung Hae-young's vacancy was filled by rookie pitcher Kim Jung-yeop in 2025.
Jung Hae-young's pace dropped sharply in the second half of the year. In eight games, he lost two, saved three, allowed seven innings and had a 7.71 ERA.
It was crucial to allow a two-day winning loss against Doosan, which is ranked ninth recently. KIA took the lead by trailing 1-2 and turning it over 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning, and tried to end the game by raising Jung Hae-young in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, the situation began to twist strangely as Jung Hae-young received a right-handed hit by Kim Ki-yeon after one out and walked Jake Cave. Ahn Jae-seok also gave up a hit to the middle field, loading the bases with one out.
The KIA bench lowered Jung Hae-young and raised Cho Sang-woo here. Doosan responded with Kang Seung-ho's pinch-hitter Kim In-tae, and Kim In-tae hit a two-run timely double on the right-field line and lost 3-4.
KIA was twisted in Jamsil Doosan on the 15th when Jung Hae-young's wild pitch and catcher Han Jun-su's throwing error to the third base allowed second baseman Jung Soo-bin to score after two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead. In the end, Kim Geon-guk allowed a walk-off home run to Ahn Jae-seok of Doosan Bears after a close game that lasted until the 11th inning of extra time, losing 5-6.
It was time for a change, such as changing Jung Hae-young's position, but KIA manager Lee Bum-ho went down to the second division and gave him time to empty his head and return.
Kim Jung-yeop was nominated by KIA in the 45th place in the fifth round of the 2025 Rookie Draft. He pitched in 23 Futures League games this year, recording one win, one hold, one save, 21 ⅔ innings, 23 strikeouts, and a 9.14 ERA. After a month of short-term training at Tread Athletics in the U.S. in June, he has had two holds and four strikeouts in the last four games, giving him a chance to call up the first team.
Kim Jung-yeop's strength is a fast ball that reaches 150 kilometers per hour, and he uses sliders, curves, and changeups.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
