KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max

Oct 19, 2025

KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max
The Samsung-Hanwha match held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 29th. Kim Bum-soo, who took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, pitches. Daejeon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.8.29/



It was unimaginable a year ago. Hanwha Eagles left-hander bullpen Kim Bum-soo saved the team until the fall baseball, further increasing the FA value.

Kim Bum-soo took the mound in relief at the top of the ninth inning with one out and one base in the first round of the playoffs against the Samsung Lions in Daejeon on the 18th. It was shortly after Hanwha closer Kim Seo-hyun, who took the mound first in the ninth inning, allowed a home run and a long hit to allow two runs. If one more point is lost, the atmosphere will be completely passed to Samsung, and Kim Bum-soo finished the game by turning Kim Ji-chan to a ground ball to first base and Kim Sung-yoon to a fly ball to center field. It was his first postseason save since his debut.

Kim Bum-soo was a top prospect who graduated from Bukil High School and joined the Hanwha Eagles as the first nomination in 2015. I had high expectations as a left-handed fireballer, but I always had a hard time because my control was in trouble. Nevertheless, there was enough potential to steadily get opportunities in the first team.




Kim Bum-soo had the best season of his career this year, his 11th year as a professional. He played 2-1 with two saves, six holds, 48 innings and a 2.25 ERA in 73 regular-season games. By faithfully fulfilling his mission as a left-handed specialist, he contributed greatly to Hanwha's direct advance to the playoffs as second place.

After the first round of the playoffs, Hanwha coach Kim Kyung-moon praised "(Kim) Bum-soo did a big job today (18th)."

Kim Bum-soo will become the first FA after the season. A year ago, not many imagined that Kim Bum-soo would be treated well in the FA market. KIA Tigers' Cho Sang-woo, who boasts 89 saves and 82 holds in his career, was considered the biggest fish, while Doosan Bears' Lee Young-ha and Choi Won-joon overwhelmed Kim Bum-soo in their careers.




KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max
The first PO match between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 18th. Hanwha won 9-8. Kim Bum-soo cheering after the game. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.18/
KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max
The Hanwha-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 18th. Cho Sang-woo, who took the mound in the top of the ninth inning, is regretful after giving up a hit to his first batter, Heo In-seo. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.9.18/
KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max
A game between the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium on the 6th. Doosan's Lee Young-ha is pitching hard. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.08.06/
However, in the current atmosphere, the battle to recruit Kim Bum-soo is likely to unfold. The bullpen can be a target for KIA in a hurry. KIA ranked ninth with a 5.22 ERA in the bullpen this year. A weak bullpen is cited as the background of last year's unified championship team falling to eighth place in a year.

In particular, KIA suffered from a lack of left-handed bullpens this year. Kwak Do-gyu, who was selected as a must-win group, underwent elbow surgery immediately after the opening, making it difficult to return until the first half of next year. Choi Ji-min had only 2-4 losses, 53 ⅓ innings and a 6.58 ERA in 66 games amid ball control difficulties. It is worth considering securing additional left-handed bullpen.

KIA needs to strengthen its bullpen even more if internal FA Cho Sang-woo leaves. Cho Sang-woo did not reach the title of KIA's winning pitcher, but he recorded 72 games, 6-6, one save, 28 holds, 60 innings, and an ERA of 3.90. No matter how much Cho Sang-woo failed to meet expectations, there were no pitchers to be called must-win groups except for Jeon Sang-hyun, Jung Hae-young, and Sung Young-tak. In order to fill the absence of a pitcher who pitched 60 innings, reinforcement must be made by any means, whether it is FA or trade.




Kim Bum-soo showed his strong side to the big game. There were not many opportunities to advance to the postseason, but they have never lost a point on the fall stage. In 2018, he pitched in four semi-playoffs and recorded three scoreless innings in three ⅔, and has continued his scoreless streak in four ⅓ until the first round of this year's playoffs. At this rate, Kim Bum-soo is likely to become an unexpected bullpen fish.

KIA's target? FA big fish is popping up, but I couldn't imagine it a year ago...It was more brilliant than the 89SV max
The first PO match between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 18th. Hanwha won against Samsung 9-8. Kim Bum-soo, who kept his victory. Daejeon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.10.18/




This article was translated by Naver AI translator.