KIA Tigers’ Yang Hyun-jong started in Game 12 of the season against the Lotte Giants of the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 21st and recorded 69 pitches, seven hits (two home runs), one walk, seven strikeouts and four runs (four earned runs) in five innings.
There was only one biggest interest in the game. It was a new history that Yang will make in the KBO league. Yang, who had 99 strikeouts in this season before the game, would become the third player to have 100 strikeouts for 10 consecutive years following KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-cheol and Jang Won-jun, and if he secures three strikeouts, he would also set a new record of the most strikeouts in KBO history held by Song Jin-woo of “2048K.” Then he finally achieved his achievement.메이저놀이터
Yang chose Hwang Seong-bin, the leadoff hitter, as his winning shot on a 129-km slider in the top of the first inning, and struck out the first one. After successfully striking out Lee Kang-cheol and Jang Won-jun, Yang set a tie with Song Jin-woo by swinging Na Seung-yeop at the first base with no outs in the top of the second inning and striking out “the 2048th” in his career. Yang clashed with Yoon Dong-hee at the first base with two outs in the third inning and pulled out his bat through a 143-km high-fast ball, finally signaling the birth of a new history.
Yang Hyun-jong, who blocked Lotte’s batters without any significant crisis until the third inning, sent a runner to the scoring position for the first time when he got a double from leadoff hitter Son Ho-young in the top of the fourth inning, but ended the inning with two strikeouts. However, the most regrettable moments poured in the fifth inning. He started the inning with a home run by leadoff hitter Roh Jin-hyuk, and after giving up a hit to Information Keun, he allowed a walk to Yoon Dong-hee, causing a crisis on the first and second bases. He then faced a three-run home run when he threw a changeup to Son Ho-young and eventually gave up four runs in the fifth inning alone.
At the end of the fifth inning, Yang Hyun-jong threw only 69 pitches, but KIA quickly lowered Yang Hyun-jong, who built a tower, and put in bullpen pitchers to increase the number of games. As a result, KIA won a thrilling 6-5 victory in the seventh and eighth innings with the help of a series of errors by Lotte’s infielders after exchanging fierce battles with Lotte, and Yang Hyun-jong, who ended up pitching regrettably, was also able to receive fierce congratulations from his teammates.
While conducting interviews with broadcasting stations after the game, KIA players gathered in unison. The purpose of the interview was to congratulate Yang on his feat. Na also prepared a cake to put on Yang’s face. After the interview, Yang confronted the players once. Because an accident could happen, he urged them to take off their glasses. Na hoped that Yang would take off his glasses, while Yang refused, saying it was okay.
The result was devastating. Starting with water, players poured beverage, cake, and shampoo around Yang’s head, which quickly became a mess. Notably, the spectacles were covered in the cake and could not be worn until they were washed away with clean water. Nonetheless, Yang accepted congratulations from his rather violent teammates as he set two new records in a good mood.
Yang Hyeon-jong, who met with reporters after the celebration party, said, “I thought it would be a record to break someday, and I didn’t pay much attention. It will be a really meaningful record over time, but I don’t know,” adding, “I don’t have much greed for strikeouts.” However, I wanted to be the strikeout king at least once. Still, I didn’t have any greed for strikeouts while playing baseball. Because I think strikeouts are something that follows. I really want to throw a lot of innings because I think innings are the most important thing. Song Jin-woo’s ridiculous innings are shameful, but if they don’t hurt, I think we can get close to him.”
Yang was not very happy about his two big records with 100 strikeouts and a total of 2053 strikeouts for 10 consecutive years, which also did not come to reality. He said, “I don’t think I’ll feel it yet. Honestly, it doesn’t even really feel right now.” However, commentator Jung Min-cheol always said, “It’s a very impressive record after I retire later.” “I’m still active and I have to run for a new record, so I don’t think I’ve achieved anything that I’m proud of,” he said, emphasizing, “I’m still in the progressive phase.”
The name that Yang brought up the most during interviews with reporters was Lee Kang-cheol. Lee was a “teacher” to Yang when he was coaching Kia. Lee always lavished praise on Yang whenever he approached or exceeded his own record. The same goes for Yang. He is so affectionate that he always expresses gratitude to Lee every time he sets a bold record. Yang also cried out Lee Kang-cheol’s name countless times on the day.
He didn’t reveal much joy in achieving the record, but Yang didn’t leave a smile on his lips because he wanted to brag about it to coach Lee Kang-chul. Yang said, “Whenever I set a record for 10 consecutive years, I want to proudly tell the coach Lee Kang-chul, who is always at KT. The coach always says, ‘Break all my records.’ He was the one who raised me when I was young. And he was the player I look up to the most. As for today, I want to brag to coach Lee Kang-chul,” and when he said, “Then I think I’ll get a call.”