The big card was done. Kim Gwang-hyeon (35) and Yang Hyeon-jong (35). The best aces of the same age representing Korean baseball will face off for the first time in eight years. Who will be the winner? Gwangju is getting hot.
The KIA Tigers will face off in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against SSG Landers at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju at 6:30 pm on the 9th.
On the 8th, the day before the game, both teams announced their starting pitchers. Yang Hyeon-jong, who won 160 individual wins for the KIA Tigers, and Kim Gwang-hyun, who won 151 individual wins for SSG Landers, will each sortie. Yang Hyeon-jong is ranked 3rd with the most wins, and Kim Gwang-hyun is ranked 5th with the most wins.
The first time the two clashed was on May 25, 2007. At that time, Yang Hyun-jong came down the mound early with 2 hits (1 home run), 2 strikeouts and 1 run (1 earned run) with only 1 inning thrown. Kim Gwang-hyun recorded 8 hits (1 home run) and 6 runs (4 earned) in 5 innings, but the team lost 5-6 and wrote the yoke of defeat.
The last time Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong faced off was on September 26, 2015. At that time, the winner of the game was Yang Hyeon-jong. Yang Hyeon-jong recorded 7 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit ball, 7 strikeouts and 2 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings. 106 pitches.
Against this, Kim Gwang-hyun marked 5 ⅓ innings, 6 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 1 ball that fits the body, 4 strikeouts and 5 runs (5 earned). 111 pitches. At the time, KIA defeated SK (predecessor of SSG Landers) 7-5, and Yang Hyeon-jong became the winning pitcher and Kim Gwang-hyun became the losing pitcher. And this time, we met again after 8 years.안전놀이터
The two first faced off in 2007, the first year of joining the team, and faced each other on the starting mound a total of six times. The sexuality was also tight. In the matches between the two teams, both teams are tied at 3 wins and 3 losses. In addition, Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong posted a record of 2 wins and 2 losses side by side. Therefore, the balance weight, which was tight in this game, is expected to tip to one side.
There is also a waiting list. If Yang Hyeon-jong becomes the winning pitcher, he will stand shoulder to shoulder with Jeong Min-cheol (161 wins), the current MBC Sports Plus baseball commentator, who is ranked second in his personal career. In addition, if Kim Gwang-hyun wins, the number of wins will be the same as the current KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-cheol (152 wins), who is ranked 4th with the most personal wins. Former coach Jin-Woo Song with 210 wins (153 losses) ranked first in career wins.
Yang Hyun-jong is showing a better appearance than Kim Gwang-hyun in this season’s pace. Yang Hyeon-jong started in four games this season and recorded an average ERA of 2.63 with one win and no loss. He threw 24 innings, giving up 20 hits (1 home run), 10 walks, 26 strikeouts and 7 runs (7 earned). It’s the first time he’s facing SSG Landers this year.
Kim Kwang-Hyun started in 5 games and has 2 wins and an undefeated ERA of 4.30. In 23 innings, he allowed 27 hits (3 home runs), 12 walks, 17 strikeouts and 12 runs (11 earned). This season, he faced the KIA Tigers once (opening day on April 1), and at that time, he won his first win by fighting hard with 4 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 run (1 earned) in 5 innings.
It is an important fight for both SSG and KIA, as well as for Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong individually. SSG is leading the league alone with a record of 20 wins and 10 losses (0.667 win rate). Recently, the momentum is great with 5 consecutive wins, including sweeping all 3 consecutive matches with Kiwoom. KIA is ranked 4th in the league alone with 13 wins and 12 losses (0.520 win rate). KIA is also on the rise with 8 wins and 2 losses in the last 10 games. Moreover, after winning 10-2 against Lotte on the 3rd, he rested 4 games in a row from the 4th to the 7th due to rain.
Time has passed and Yang Hyeon-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun are now veterans in their mid-30s. Now, it is expected to catch the attention of baseball fans with a confrontation of seasoned beauty. Who will be the winner in the 7th confrontation?