Is this the spirit of being twenty? Rookie of the Year winner Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears) is overcoming concerns about the second-year jinx with upgraded skills and mentality. Of course, it's still early, but given the current momentum, his first full-time closing season is also expected to be a success.

Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop noted, “Looking at Kim Taek-yeon's recent growth speed, I am very surprised.” during the second game of the season against Hanwha Eagles held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on the 9th.

Having won Rookie of the Year last year and now entering his second year, Kim Taek-yeon has recorded 6 games, 4 saves, an ERA of 0, pitched 8 innings while striking out 8 batters and allowing only 1 walk. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is 0.38, and his opponent batting average is .080, with a pitch count of 13.75 per inning, making all figures truly overwhelming. Kim Taek-yeon is currently tied for first in saves with notable closers such as Jeong Hae-young (KIA Tigers) and Park Young-hyun (KT Wiz).

Manager Lee Seung-yeop stated, “In fact, during spring training, I was worried because his pace was a bit slow. I designated him as the closer, but I definitely felt that he is a different player as I saw him continue to prepare. I have 100% confidence that we will always win when Kim Taek-yeon comes out. While he could blow a save, he’s a player who gives confidence that he can protect the win on the mound.”

Kim Taek-yeon has taken on the responsibility of being a full-time closer. During the game against Hanwha on the 8th, he pitched 2 scoreless innings with 22 pitches. Although the manager suggested a rest day on the 9th, he voluntarily offered to pitch again. Manager Lee Seung-yeop commented, “I thought it would be tough, but he said he was fine. I am always keeping an eye on Kim Taek-yeon's physical condition.” This was a glimpse into Kim Taek-yeon’s team-first mentality.

Kim Taek-yeon graduated from Incheon High School and realized his dream of turning pro as the 2nd pick in the first round by Doosan in the 2024 rookie draft. He impressed manager Lee Seung-yeop upon joining and participated in the first team’s spring training held in Sydney, Australia, and Miyazaki, Japan, where he was named the spring training MVP, marking the beginning of a spectacular debut season.

After quickly adapting to the first team, Kim Taek-yeon took over as the team’s closer midway through the first half of the season. He reinforced the back door, was invited to the All-Star game, and continued his momentum in the second half, achieving a successful debut season with 60 games, 3 wins, 2 losses, 19 saves, and 4 holds with an ERA of 2.08. He contributed significantly to Doosan's 4th place in the regular season while pitching 65 innings.

It was not just about having good statistics. On July 11, during the match against KT Wiz in Suwon, Kim Taek-yeon became the first rookie in KBO history to pitch a flawless inning (3 strikeouts in one inning), and on the 23rd, he became the youngest player in KBO history to achieve 10 saves (19 years, 1 month, 20 days). Thanks to this, he received the Rookie of the Year honor at the KBO awards ceremony, an award that can only be given once in a lifetime.

Kim Taek-yeon also hit the jackpot in salary negotiations. Starting his first season with a salary of 30 million won, the 19-year-old rookie, thanks to his remarkable performance, signed a contract with a salary of 140 million won.

This tied the record for the highest salary for a second-year pro coming out of high school alongside KT's Sohn Hyeon-jun in 2021. The highest salary for a second-year KBO player belongs to Ha Jae-hoon (SSG Landers), who signed for 150 million won, but he was not a high school rookie but rather a mid-career rookie who already experienced playing professionally overseas.

Kim Taek-yeon recorded a salary increase of 366.7% (110 million won), setting a new record for the highest salary increase in the 42-year history of the Bears franchise. The previous record was 300% set by Kim Jae-hwan in 2017, when his salary jumped from 50 million won to 200 million won. Kim Taek-yeon has made a remarkable impact, achieving an incredible figure of 366.7% in just 8 years.

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