Both the performance and pitching details are concerning. The rookie of the year, Kim Taek-yeon, who dominated the mound last year with his fastball, is suspicious.

Doosan Bears' Kim Taek-yeon once again failed to secure a victory. On the 10th, Kim Taek-yeon pitched in the 9th inning against the NC Dinos at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, recording 1 inning, 2 hits allowed (1 home run allowed), 1 strikeout, and 2 earned runs, resulting in a blown save.

After Doosan turned the game around in the bottom of the 8th to lead 5-4, Kim Taek-yeon took the mound in the top of the 9th. He fell behind against the leadoff batter Park Geon-woo, reaching 3 balls and 1 strike, but threw 5 consecutive fastballs to retire him with a flyout to left field. However, after allowing a double to right field against pinch hitter Han Seok-hyun after throwing 2 fastballs, Kim Hwi-jip was retired on a swinging strikeout, creating 2 outs with a runner on second base.

However, Kim Taek-yeon could not overcome the final hurdle. He was struck by a blow from Cheon Jae-hwan with 2 outs and a runner on second base. He threw a 149 km/h fastball on the inside, but it got caught well by Cheon Jae-hwan's bat and soared over the left fence. A two-run homer that turned the game around. It was a fastball in the inside location, but it could not overcome the determined swing.

This marks Kim Taek-yeon's second blown save of the season. Nonetheless, in the bottom of the 9th, Cave hit a game-tying solo home run, erasing Kim Taek-yeon's loss, and the team recorded a 6-6 draw.

Games where Kim Taek-yeon gives up runs are becoming more frequent. The image of Doosan as the last bastion, an impregnable fortress, is gradually breaking down. It has become evident in recent games that it is no longer an invincible stronghold. Due to the team’s circumstances, which have been struggling to secure victories from the lower ranks, opportunities to record saves are decreasing. Even so, when taking the mound, he must show an overwhelming presence, but this year, that momentum has not been felt.

It shows in the statistics. Last year, he recorded 3 wins, 2 losses, 4 holds, and 19 saves with an earned run average of 2.08 (15 earned runs in 65 innings) in 60 games. He was overwhelming and powerful enough to win Rookie of the Year.

This season, he has recorded 6 saves with an earned run average of 4.32 (8 earned runs in 16⅔ innings) and 19 strikeouts in 14 games. Particularly, last year, he allowed only 2 home runs in 60 games over 65 innings, but this year, he has allowed the same 2 home runs in just 14 games across 16⅔ innings.

In 2023, Kim Taek-yeon experienced an unprecedented workload with 5 consecutive appearances on the youth national team. He needed rest more than training ahead of his debut season. Nevertheless, last year, he started as a bullpen pitcher and gradually rose through the ranks to eventually take the closer position. Doosan was extremely cautious about Kim Taek-yeon's overuse. However, they could not afford to avoid using Kim Taek-yeon, who has the best stuff.

This year, he was expected to take on the same role as last year. However, the current Kim Taek-yeon is not the same as last year. On April 20 against KIA at Jamsil, he recorded 1 inning, 2 hits allowed, 1 strikeout, and 3 earned runs (1 earned run). On the 26th against Lotte, he recorded 1⅓ innings, 1 hit allowed, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, 1 strikeout, and 2 earned runs. On the 1st against KT, he recorded 1 inning, 1 home run allowed, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. On the 4th against Samsung, he recorded 1 inning, 1 hit allowed, 2 strikeouts, and 1 earned run. It was a shocking four consecutive games of giving up runs.

After that, on the 5th and 7th, in the Children’s Day series against the LG Twins, he recorded 1 inning with 1 hit allowed, 2 strikeouts and no earned runs, and 1⅓ innings with 2 walks, 1 strikeout and no earned runs, respectively. But he gave up runs again. It was not the fastball that had kept the opposing batters busy with swings and misses. It has been confirmed that Kim Taek-yeon is no longer an untouchable presence.

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