KIA Tigers player Kim Kyu-sung (28) led a dramatic comeback with a crucial RBI hit in the eighth inning.

On June 6, Kim Kyu-sung appeared as a pinch hitter in the game against the Kiwoom Heroes in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League, held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, recording 1 hit in 1 at-bat with 1 RBI.

The game featured a fierce struggle for the lead, with KIA and Kiwoom both trading the advantage. KIA scored first in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly from Kim Sun-bin for an RBI. Kiwoom immediately turned the game around in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout from Yasiel Puig and an RBI hit from Kim Tae-jin.

KIA regained the lead in the top of the second inning with a 2-RBI hit from Patrick Wisdom. Kiwoom equalized the game in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI hit from Ruben Cardenas.

The decisive moment came in the top of the eighth inning. Lead-off hitter Oh Sun-woo reached base on a walk, and Han Joon-soo got a hit, creating an opportunity with no outs and runners on first and second. At this point, Kim Kyu-sung came in as a pinch hitter for Jeong Hae-won. Kim Kyu-sung transitioned from a bunt stance to a powerful hit, sending a ground ball that passed both the second baseman and first baseman for an RBI hit. KIA added another run due to a wild pitch and ultimately won 5-3.

In a post-game interview, Kim Kyu-sung noted, "Before stepping up to the plate, the coach told me that even if a bunt sign is on, if I see an opportunity to pressure the Kiwoom defense, I should hit it hard on the ground. I went up to bat with that in mind, and it resulted in a good outcome. I think I was lucky." Reflecting on the pivotal moment in the game.

"Originally, the bunt sign was on," Kim Kyu-sung revealed. "However, I judged based on the positioning of the Kiwoom fielders, so I switched to a strong hit. It was a situation where a bunt could have worked, but the second baseman was moving a lot. I thought hitting towards second base would have a higher chance of being a hit, so I went for it. The ball headed towards first base, but luckily it became a hit."

Choosing a strong hit instead of a bunt, which could be considered an easier option, Kim Kyu-sung said, "First, I watched the movements of the Kiwoom fielders closely, and second, I judged that a strong hit had a higher probability than a bunt." He added, "It wasn't a solid hit, so while running, I was thinking ‘please, please'. Inside, I was hoping it wouldn't be caught," and laughed.

Kim Kyu-sung, who has taken on a backup infielder role this season, noted, "I really think being a backup is quite tough. Every game is different, and there are situations where I come in during tight moments, so in a way, being a backup is harder than being a starter. I'm focusing on the team's victory rather than individual records. Because of that, I feel good when the team wins, even if I don’t perform well," he expressed his hopes for KIA's success.

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