"Doesn't seem like a ball that can be hit...".

KIA Tigers right-handed pitcher Seong Young-tak (21) is delivering a remarkable performance and becoming a breath of fresh air for the bullpen. On the 19th, he made history for the Tigers during a game against the KT Wiz in Gwangju. Entering the game in the eighth inning with a 5-0 lead, he pitched two perfect innings. He collected six outs at lightning speed, extending his debut consecutive scoreless innings record to 15⅔ innings.

He had already surpassed the 13⅔ innings record set by legendary pitcher Jo Gye-hyeon since his debut in 1989. This marked a transformation in the Tigers’ history after 36 years. He then added one more inning in the ninth. He is now ranked fourth in KBO history. If he pitches four more innings, he will be on par with the top record of 19⅔ innings held by Kim In-beom of Kiwoom.

He graduated from Busan High School and was drafted in the 2024 rookie draft. This was a remarkable turnaround for a pitcher selected 96th overall in the 10th round. He did not receive a chance to debut last year. Over two years in the Futures League until his promotion to the first team, he recorded 36 games, 65⅓ innings, 3 wins, 2 losses, 3 holds, and an ERA of 4.41. Among 84 hits allowed, 10 were home runs. These were not excellent numbers; however, 2.34 walks per nine innings stood out.

He was officially promoted to the first team on May 20. His mission was to handle multi-inning duties in games where they were behind or had a significant lead. In fact, he appeared in such situations in four games in May. After pitching five scoreless innings in four games, his utility changed. He began taking the mound in situations with a four-run lead, a two-run lead, and even in tied games.

Eventually, on the 8th during a game against the Hanwha Eagles in Gwangju, after Yang Hyeon-jong gave up five runs and was pulled after one out in the third with runners on first and second, he took the baton. He quickly recorded two outs and continued to hold them scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings. KIA launched a comeback, winning 7-6 in a 10-inning walk-off victory. Seong Young-tak's scoreless pitching was a decisive stepping stone.

He continued his scoreless pitching, but faced a crisis on the 17th during a game against KT in Gwangju. Entering the game in the seventh inning with a score of 8-3, he allowed one hit and one walk, and faced a bases-loaded threat due to a third baseman's error. Against Mel Rojas Jr., he boldly challenged him and threw a curve to induce a double play that overcame the crisis, and two days later, he achieved a significant record.

Seong Young-tak's eliminated 15⅔ innings were a blessing for the bullpen. He significantly eased the burden on the winning crew. In a situation where another pitcher could falter, the winning crew would have to be deployed. As closely contested matches continued, the burden on the winning crew could only increase. KIA achieved a record of 6 wins and 2 losses in 8 games he pitched in June. He truly is a lucky charm.

His velocity, although not overwhelming at mid-140 km/h, has proven effective. He bravely challenged by injecting strikes without shying away on the mound. He skillfully employs a two-seam fastball, cutter, and curve. Most of the poorly hit balls came from slight movements left and right around the home plate. Teammates also remarked, "Doesn't seem like a ball that can be hit but it doesn't connect well," with astonished expressions.

After the game on the 19th, when asked about the secret to his scoreless streak, Seong Young-tak explained, "I could see that the hitters were struggling with my pitches, so I continued to throw confidently. It seems that the variety of pitches (two-seam, cutter, curve) and my aggressive approach make it difficult for them. The analytics team suggested that the movement of the two-seam fastball is good enough for any hitter to deal with and that I could throw it confidently down the middle and still get weak contact."

Manager Lee Beom-ho also praised him, saying, "The arm swing is fast. Even if the speed isn't high, the descent is good and the ball has depth. His control is excellent. The two-seam fastball, cutter, and curve are extremely tricky. Batters struggle with the variations as they approach the home plate. He possesses great abilities that contribute to the team. I will use him in crucial situations." With his contributions to the bullpen, he has led the team to a winning trend, bringing smiles to the coaching staff.

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