As long as Jeon Sang-hyeon comes back to life.
The KIA Tigers bullpen, which was shaky at the beginning of the season, showed strength in the KT game in Gwangju on the 15th. Starter James Nail held off the opposition without allowing a run until the sixth inning. In a tightly contested 0-0 game, Jo Sang-woo came in and completed a perfect inning. With a 1-0 lead, left-hander Choi Ji-min entered the game in the eighth inning, turning Rojas into a flyout to right field, Huh Kyung-min into a Samjin, and struck out Kim Min-hyeok, continuing the Ieoju.
In the ninth inning, closer Jeong Hae-young took over. Jang Seong-woo produced a swinging strikeout, Hwang Jae-kyun grounded to shortstop, and Choi Seong-min induced a groundout in front of the pitcher to wrap up the game. The three players handled the inning neatly without allowing a run, preserving the 1-0 victory. Jo Sang-woo received the win, Choi Ji-min got a hold, and Jeong Hae-young collected a save.
Immediately after the opening, the bullpen was unstable, leading to four comeback losses in four games. However, they are now showing a considerably stable appearance. In particular, Choi Ji-min's revival is proving to be a significant boost. He has appeared in 10 games, securing three holds and recording an earned run average of 2.08. With a batting average against of .273 and a WHIP of 1.67, he has allowed five walks over 8⅔ innings. Although he is not yet perfect, evaluations indicate he is recovering his form for the 2023 season.
Newcomer Jo Sang-woo is also displaying stability. In 10 games, he has two wins and four holds, with an earned run average of 2.25. He is effectively filling the void left by Jang Hyun-sik. With a low delivery, he is throwing both fastballs and breaking balls with confidence. He noted, "We had a high ball rate early on, but I have been focusing on pitching in the zone regardless of pitch type, and it has yielded good results. I approach every appearance with the mindset of just getting through one inning successfully. My form will improve. "
Closer Jeong Hae-young is the most dominant since joining the team. He is throwing fastballs exceeding 150 km/h. Although he struggled at one point due to a drop in velocity, he now effectively utilizes a powerful fastball, slider, splitter, and curve. The shock from allowing three runs in a blown save against Kiwoom in his second appearance has rather turned out to be beneficial. Manager Lee Beom-ho praised, "From what I’ve observed, his form is the best this year," while he has recorded five saves and an earned run average of 3.86.
There is still one person remaining. Right-handed setup man Jeon Sang-hyeon needs to return to his position. He has pitched 4⅔ innings over six games, but there have been frequent shaky moments. After allowing runs in three games, his earned run average has risen to 11.57. To maintain the championship bullpen's strength, he needs to regain his characteristic appearance, which includes a quick tempo, control, and a strong fastball and slider.
Kwak Do-kyu, who was once called the left-handed victory pitcher, has ended his season early due to damage to his elbow flexor and ligaments. This is a painful loss to the team. Last year's struggling Choi Ji-min is stepping up to fill the gap, with Lee Jun-young and Kim Dae-yu also managing the left-handed bullpen. Manager Lee stated that while they have lost one left-hander, they plan to effectively utilize right-handed pitchers as well. Thus, Jeon Sang-hyeon's return to form is increasingly necessary.
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