Kiwoom Heroes' Oh Sun-jin (36) became the hero of the game for the second consecutive day, hitting a walk-off single in extra innings followed by a game-winning grand slam.
On the 27th, Oh Sun-jin started at shortstop batting sixth in a game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field as part of the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League,' recording 2 hits, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 1 run, and 1 walk in 4 at-bats.
Leading off in the second inning, Oh Sun-jin hit a single. With the teams tied at 0-0, he faced SSG's left-handed starter Kim Kwang-hyun with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning. He connected with a curveball clocked at 115 km/h on the fifth pitch, sending the ball far into left field where it hit the foul pole for a grand slam. SSG requested a video review, but the call was not overturned. Oh Sun-jin's home run allowed Kiwoom to seize a 4-0 lead.
It was Oh Sun-jin's first home run since June 26, 2022, when he was with Hanwha, marking a span of 1,036 days. Furthermore, this was his first grand slam recorded in his career. The 5 RBIs were also a personal best for a single game since he recorded 4 RBIs against SSG on May 9, 2019, during his time with Hanwha.
Oh Sun-jin stepped into the batter's box again with a two-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth inning. Fans cheered for another grand slam, but he had to settle for an RBI walk on the fifth pitch from Choi Min-jun. Thanks to Oh Sun-jin's contributions, Kiwoom won 7-3, achieving back-to-back victories and clinching the winning series in the weekend's three-game matchup.
After the game, Oh Sun-jin remarked, "I didn't think it was a foul. It was just a matter of whether it went over or not. I couldn't see whether it hit the foul pole or the fence. I'm glad it was a home run. I hoped to make solid contact, but it wasn’t because it was powered well. Looking back later, it was a ball on the inner part of the plate, and I think my focus on making contact led to a good result."
Oh Sun-jin had another chance for a grand slam. He smiled and said, "I think the cheers from the fans were louder when I stepped into the box." He continued, "Everyone was cheering so much that I didn’t want to think about hitting a home run. I hadn't thought about a second grand slam at all; my only thought was to hit the ball to the right side." He added, "I wasn’t at all disappointed that it turned into an RBI walk. It felt good to get on base and contribute an RBI."
Oh Sun-jin, who began his professional career by being drafted in the second round of the 2008 rookie draft (26th overall pick) by Hanwha, had to frequently change teams, often against his will. He was traded from Hanwha to Samsung in 2021 and signed a free-agent contract (1+1 years, up to 400 million won) to return to Hanwha after the 2022 season. However, he was selected by Lotte in the second draft in 2023, again changing teams. After being released by Lotte at the end of last season, he signed with Kiwoom ahead of this season, gaining another chance.
Approaching this as his last chance with Kiwoom, Oh Sun-jin has played in 22 games, recording a batting average of .313 (10 hits in 32 at-bats), with 1 home run, 9 RBIs, 5 runs, and an OPS of .905, demonstrating valuable contributions. Notably, following his walk-off hit in the 10th inning on the 26th, he led his team to victory with a grand slam in this game, becoming the star of the weekend's three-game series.
"I am happy to have such a great performance," Oh Sun-jin said. "I’m not trying to do anything special. I just try to do my best every day in my position. I feel like 'days like this do happen.' I said yesterday that I was happy playing baseball, and I think I feel even happier now."
"I think I have been playing baseball too anxiously. I always felt the pressure to 'do well' and 'show myself' in a new team," Oh Sun-jin said. "I regretted how I finished the season last year with Lotte. Baseball is something I do, yet I was trying too hard to perform well. With Kiwoom, I aim to show what I’ve prepared to the fullest with a more relaxed attitude," he vowed to do his best for the remainder of the season.
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