Professional baseball player Kim Kwang-hyun of SSG Landers signed a contract extension ahead of free agency.

SSG announced on the 13th that it has entered into a multi-year contract with Kim Kwang-hyun, the team's franchise star and veteran left-handed ace, for a period of two years and a total of 3.6 billion won (30 million won annual salary, 600 million won option).

Kim Kwang-hyun is the first major leaguer from SSG and returned to his former team in 2022 with a total contracts worth 15.1 billion won. That year, Kim Kwang-hyun had an ERA of 2.13 (2nd in the league) and a winning percentage of 0.813 (2nd in the league), leading the team to a wire-to-wire overall championship, and he continues to provide stable pitching as a key member of the starting rotation this season.

SSG explained that Kim Kwang-hyun, who was eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, successfully reached an agreement with the club by establishing a consensus. It noted that the contract reflects his strong motivation to achieve 200 career wins in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League and the club's long-term plans to support him.

Since his return to Korea, Kim Kwang-hyun has set "200 career wins (KBO League)" as his most important goal, and he has recorded 174 wins so far, leaving him with just 26 wins to achieve that milestone.

Kim Kwang-hyun stated, "200 wins have always been a symbolic goal since I joined in 2007 and after I returned from the United States. I set a two-year period to maintain my own sense of readiness, and I will push myself harder to achieve that goal within this time. After that, I would like to reassess my value with the club."

SSG assessed that Kim Kwang-hyun has played an important role not only as a franchise star representing the team and the league but also in terms of performance, dedication, and leadership, viewing this contract as the first step in preparing for the opening of the Cheongna era in 2028.

The club plans to provide comprehensive support so that Kim Kwang-hyun can leave a deep impression on fans over the next two years.

SSG stated, "Kim Kwang-hyun will be able to achieve 200 wins in the next two years, and we will embark on the beginning of the Cheongna era together with him. We expect him to perform at his best without any pressure and continue our long-term partnership."

Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-hyun is scheduled to start in the home game against the Lotte Giants on the 14th at Incheon SSG Landers Field.

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