Professional baseball SSG Landers newcomer Kim Seong-wook (32) showcased outstanding performance in his first start since transferring, leading the team to consecutive victories.

SSG triumphed 6-2 against the LG Twins in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League match held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 10th, marking their second consecutive win. Kim Seong-wook, starting as the number 2 right fielder, contributed with 3 hits in 5 at-bats along with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored.

In his first at-bat of the game without any outs in the first inning, Kim Seong-wook struck out but later hit an RBI double with 1 out and runners on first and second base. In the fourth inning, Kim Seong-wook recorded an infield hit with a strong ground ball to the third baseman, and in the eighth inning, he delivered an RBI single with 1 out and a runner on third base, sealing the victory.

Kim Seong-wook is a power hitter with a career batting average of .237, 516 hits in 2,178 at-bats, 78 home runs, 293 RBIs, 360 runs scored, and 64 stolen bases over 972 games in the KBO League. Last season, he hit 17 home runs and re-signed with NC on a two-year deal worth up to 300 million won after qualifying for free agency. However, he has struggled this season, recording a batting average of .077 with 1 hit in 13 at-bats across 10 games before transferring to SSG on the 7th through a trade involving a 4th round rookie draft pick and 50 million won.

Kim Seong-wook, who led the team to victory with his strong performance in his first start after the transfer, expressed in a post-game interview, "I felt no nervousness at all when I left the hotel. It was fine when I was practicing, but when I stood in the batter's box wearing a different uniform, my heart started to race a bit. Eventually, after striking out and going out to play defense and catching a few balls, I began to relax, and a good result followed."

Manager Lee Sung-yong noted in a pre-game interview that he told Kim Seong-wook, "In today's game, chew some gum. You seem a bit introverted, so I suggested he chew gum to exude a bit of an arrogant vibe. For now, I emphasized an outgoing demeanor rather than technical aspects. If possible, I would like him to unbutton one or two buttons; I think that feels necessary."

"I only chewed gum while playing defense, and my jaw hurts," laughed Kim Seong-wook, adding, "I also unbuttoned a bit as the manager suggested. While that might not have been the reason I did well, I believe it had a good effect. I'm planning to try it again tomorrow."

Manager Lee Sung-yong also pointed out that Kim Seong-wook focuses too much on making contact when swinging and suggested he should adopt a more aggressive swing aiming for home runs. Ultimately, what the team hopes from Kim Seong-wook is his power-hitting capability. Kim Seong-wook explained, "Hitting for power isn’t something I can control entirely," but he added, "Initially, I would keep my feet planted and swing without lifting my foot after two strikes. But after striking out in my first at-bat today and thinking that I would strike out anyway, I decided to lift my foot and swing, which led to good results."

"If I used to play baseball in a comfortable environment with familiar people, now I've come to a different environment," said Kim Seong-wook. He noted, "It seems like there’s something different in this setting. I feel a bit more tense, but it seems to have a positive effect." He added, "I haven’t been to the Incheon home stadium yet. They say the clubhouse is so nice, but I haven’t checked it out. I want to see it with my own eyes," smiling.

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