Kim Won-jung, the rock-solid closer pitcher for the Lotte Giants, has written another great record.
On the 18th, Kim Won-jung achieved his 150th save at the home game against the Hanwha Eagles held at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, becoming the first player in Lotte's history and the 11th player in the history of the KBO League to reach the milestone.
That day, with the team leading 6-3 in the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Kim Won-jung took the mound and struck out Hanwha's key batter Chae Eun-seong on three pitches, perfectly holding off the eighth inning. He then got Lee Do-yoon and Hwang Young-mook out in order in the ninth inning, achieving a scoreless 1⅓ innings pitched to secure the save. This was his 18th save of the season and his unprecedented 150th save in Giants history.
Since joining Lotte in 2015, Kim Won-jung has been active while wearing the Giants uniform as a 'franchise star.'
He switched to the closer position starting in the 2020 season, recording his first save on May 22 of that year against the Kiwoom Heroes. Later, on September 12, 2021, he achieved his 50th career save, again against Kiwoom, and finished that season with a personal-best 35 saves, solidifying his status as a top closer in the league. On August 16, 2023, he became the first player in club history to surpass 100 saves in a game against the SSG Landers.
This season, Kim Won-jung has maintained an overwhelming performance with 3 wins, 1 loss, and 18 saves in 30 games, with an earned run average of 1.65, leading the team's competition for a top spot. His presence, unshaken during crises, shines as the 'final puzzle' of the Lotte mound.
After the game, Kim Won-jung received a congratulatory bouquet from manager Kim Tae-hyoung and captain Jeon Jun-woo, and enjoyed a moment of emotion amidst a celebratory shower of water from his teammates after finishing the broadcast interview.
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