Yang Hyun-jong (KIA Tigers) did not become a winning pitcher in his last appearance in the regular season, but he soothed his disappointment by making two innings-related records.
Yang started the season’s 15th game against the Lotte Giants of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Saturday, and lost the game by allowing five runs with seven hits, four strikeouts and no outs in five innings. He pitched 66 pitches.먹튀검증
Yang aimed for the second 2,500 innings in his career in the KBO, and 170 innings for the first 10 consecutive seasons. Before the game on the day, Yang had 2,498 ⅔ innings and 166 ⅓ innings in the season. Yang was able to set a new record with just five innings.
KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong throws the ball vigorously in the top of the first inning of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” game between the Lotte Giants and the KIA Tigers at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the afternoon of the 25th. Reporter Kim Han-joon of Gwangju
Yang finished the top of the first inning smoothly. He drew a ground ball to Hwang Seong-bin, the first batter, and Victor Reyes, the next batter, to hit a ground ball to the shortstop. With the second out, he struck out Ko Seung-min to end the inning.
Yang gave up a hit to leadoff hitter Son Ho-young in the top of the second inning, but he threw a fly ball to left field with no outs and runners on the first base. It was the moment that Yang recorded 2,500 innings in his career after Song Jin-woo (then Hanwha Eagles) in 2004. The message commemorating Yang’s record achievement was displayed on the electronic display.
Yang continued his challenge for 170 innings for 10 consecutive seasons. However, the process was not smooth. After consecutive hits by Park Seung-wook and Cho In-geun at the top of the third inning, Yang allowed an RBI double to Hwang Sung-bin at the first and second bases with no outs. Reyes’ two-run timely hit and Ko Seung-min’s one-run timely hit increased the number of runs lost.
KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong throws the ball vigorously in the top of the first inning of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” game between the Lotte Giants and the KIA Tigers at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the afternoon of the 25th. Reporter Kim Han-joon of Gwangju
Yang grounded out Son Ho-young at third base with no outs, but had to watch third baseman Ko Seung-min score when Jeon grounded out to shortstop. After Na Seung-yeop’s infield hit, Yoon Dong-hee struck out to end the inning, taking a breather.
Yang Hyun-jong completed 170 innings with a grounder to shortstop by Information Geun with one out after leadoff hitter Park Seung-wook’s straight hit to the second base in the top of the fourth inning, and Hwang Sung-bin’s grounder to the pitcher with two outs.
Yang kept the mound at the top of the fifth inning. After the first batter, Reyes struck out, Ko Seung-min hit a fly ball to center field, and Son Ho-young struck out to end the inning. It was Yang’s last inning on the day.
Yang Hyun-jong of KIA, who achieved 170 innings for the first time in the KBO League for 10 consecutive years, is being congratulated by Lee Bum-ho, the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” Lotte Giants and KIA Tigers at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the afternoon of the 25th. Reporter Kim Han-joon of Gwangju
After the game, Yang Hyun-jong said, “I’m happy to achieve the goal I’ve set since the beginning of the season,” adding, “I’m more happy to contribute to the team’s victory by throwing steadily without getting sick, and to contribute to the team winning the regular season.”
Yang Hyun-jong played in the KBO League for 17 seasons and maintained consistency. Starting with 171 ⅓ innings in 2014, he pitched more than 170 innings every season from 184 ⅓ innings in 2015, 200 ⅓ innings in 2016, 193 ⅓ innings in 2017, 184 ⅓ innings in 2018, 172 ⅓ innings in 2020, 175 ⅓ innings in 2022, and 171 ⅓ innings last year.
In particular, the situation was difficult this season as a large number of key starters, including Will Crow, Lee Eui-ri, Yoon Young-chul and James Nail, left due to injuries, but Yang Hyun-jong has been in the starting rotation all the time. This is why his record of 170 innings for 10 consecutive seasons is more valuable.
Yang said, “I always have greed for innings. I hope I can throw more next year, but I’m going to focus more on my team’s victory. If that happens, I think my record will also follow.”
Former coach Kim Ki-tae greets Yang Hyeon-jong before the first pitch of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” match between the Lotte Giants and the KIA Tigers at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the afternoon of the 25th. Reporter Kim Han-joon of Gwangju
Yang also expressed his desire to challenge Song Jin-woo (3003 innings) to set a career-high number of innings. Yang, who currently has 2503 ⅔ innings in his career, needs to fill more than 499 ⅔ innings to overcome Song.
Yang Hyun-jong said, “I have a desire to break Song Jin-woo’s record for the most innings one day, but it’s still a long way away, so I’ll focus on throwing like I do every season,” and vowed, “If I throw it all the way without hurting like that, I think I’ll be able to achieve that record someday.”