The KIA Tigers were rated as an 'absolute powerhouse' before the opening of the professional baseball season.

The defending champion KIA lost free agent Jang Hyun-sik to LG during the offseason, but reinforced their vacant position by acquiring the former saves king Jo Sang-woo through a trade with Kiwoom. They seemed to have few shortcomings in starting pitching, the bullpen, and the lineup.

However, the variable of 'injuries' held them back. In the opening game, last year's MVP Kim Do-young was sidelined due to a hamstring injury, and injuries continued for starters like Park Chan-ho and Kim Sun-bin. As of the end of June, Kim Do-young was out due to a second hamstring injury, and Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin, and Lee Eui-ri were undergoing rehabilitation from injuries.

Despite this, KIA recorded an overwhelming winning percentage of 15 wins, 7 losses, and 2 ties (winning percentage .682) in June. Hanwha, leading the season, was in second place with 11 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie (winning percentage .550) in June. Looking at just June, KIA's performance matches the evaluation of being an 'absolute powerhouse.'

The 'gums baseball' of backup players who came up from the second team stood out. Players like Oh Sun-woo, Kim Seok-hwan, Ko Jong-wook, Kim Ho-ryeong, Park Min, Sung Young-tak, Kim Geon-guk, and Lee Ho-min, who previously did not get opportunities, are showcasing depth baseball.

Manager Lee Beom-ho explained on the 29th, before the last game in June at Jamsil Stadium, "No matter how good the manager's thoughts are and how I field players after careful deliberation on the batting order, what matters most is the mindset of those players who step up to the order. In June, when I thought things through, the players executed well. It fit perfectly."

He added, "Since June worked well, I wonder if July will also go smoothly; if my approach is slightly off, then I need to consider other options. The players can't think of everything, and I need to keep brainstorming. The important thing is not what I do, but that the players perform well. How the players' conditions are and whether they have the desire to play when they take the field is extremely important. I will keep an eye on that."

When asked about the MVP chosen by the manager for June, he answered without hesitation, "The MVP is everyone together. Right now, everyone is united, including the coaching staff and the front office, picking up the ball together, hoping that the players will do well together."

"Even though we have a lot of injured players, the training department is doing a great job managing the players who are currently playing in the games. So I want to express my gratitude to the training department," he said.

He added, "I experienced difficulties in June, and while I think July will be better, it could also be more challenging, so I won’t let my guard down and will take it one step at a time, calmly, as I did in June."

On the 29th, KIA won against LG at Jamsil Stadium with a score of 12-2, successfully finishing a recent 9-game away series in the metropolitan area (one game was canceled due to rain) with 4 wins, 2 ties, and 2 losses.

Manager Lee said, "In the remaining (last) home series against Hanwha, if we can just maintain around a .500 winning percentage until then, we will improve gradually in the second half. Players will return one by one. A situation where all players can face the opposing team with their physical strength will be created. That’s a positive factor."

He added, "If we perform well in the remaining games of the first half, chances may arise when the players gather in the second half. This year, I'm constantly looking for gaps, and if those gaps become visible, we can turn those games into wins, and I’ll make sure to hold on until everyone can gather."

With the momentum from June, KIA is currently ranked 4th with a season record of 41 wins, 35 losses, and 3 ties (winning percentage .539). They are following closely behind 3rd place Lotte by 1.5 games and trailing leader Hanwha by 3.5 games. They can now look at the title race from the mid-tier.

The remaining 9 games in the first half against SSG, Lotte, and Hanwha are crucial. In order to prevent fatigue and injuries, Manager Lee excluded foreign 'one-two punch' Nail and Olur from the first team roster sequentially with a pattern of giving them 10 days of rest. This week, Kim Geon-guk and Lee Do-yoon will be pitching as temporary starters against the SSG Landers. The six-game series against Lotte and Hanwha will be a decisive battleground.

After the victory against LG on the 29th, the manager said, "I expected that the June showdown, including the 9-game away series, would not be easy, but thanks to the players doing well, we were able to finish satisfactorily. I will also prepare well for the upcoming six-game home series next week."

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