It was the power of Hampyeong.
KIA Tigers finished the first half of the season smoothly. Right from the start, they lost their reputation as defending champions and fell to the lower ranks. Despite key players being sidelined by injuries, they managed to climb to 2nd place alone near the end of the first half. They ended up with a record of 45 wins, 40 losses, and 3 ties, finishing 4th overall in the first half. They are expected to make a comeback in the second half.
It was quite a series of injuries. From the opening game, Kim Do-young collapsed due to a left hamstring injury, and Park Chan-ho (knee sprain) and Kim Sun-bin (calf strain) also missed some time. Kim Do-young returned but Na Sung-bum was sidelined for a long time due to a calf muscle injury, and Kim Sun-bin also moved to the injured list with the same injury. Kim Do-young was sidelined again due to a right hamstring injury. Four of last year's starting lineup were lost.
The injury woes continued on the mound as well. Left-handed pitcher Gwak Do-kyu, who appeared in 72 games last year, ended his season early due to elbow surgery. Hwang Dong-han, who filled the starting gap well, was injured in a traffic accident. Choi Ji-min had inconsistent pitching, and Lim Ki-young continued to struggle. Lee Jun-young also went down with an injury. With the bullpen depth thinning, the workload of Jeong Sang-hyun, Jo Sang-woo, and Jeong Hae-young increased.
The appearance of the Hampyeong men filled the gaps left by the starters. Oh Sun-woo was called up to the first team on April 12, showcasing brilliant performances on both offense and defense. He recorded a batting average of .370, 8 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 40 runs scored, with an OPS of .840. He played as a starting outfielder, and when Kim Do-young was injured, he moved to first base, stepping in for Patrick Wisdom, who was playing third base. Oh Sun-woo's emergence was the biggest harvest of the first half.
The rediscovery of Kim Ho-ryeong, who joined in 2015, also received applause. He missed many opportunities last year due to competition for the backup outfield position and began this year in the second team. With the injuries to Na Sung-bum and Park Jeong-woo, his chances to play increased. Manager Lee Beom-ho dedicated himself to enhancing his hitting ability, and he finally began to shine at the plate.
His hitting ability improved remarkably, and he exhibited clutch power by hitting grand slams and multiple home runs. He boasts a batting average of .284, 2 home runs, 24 RBIs, and 20 runs scored, with an OPS of .795 and a batting average of .333 in scoring position. Displaying excellent defensive skills, he has firmly established himself as an irreplaceable center fielder. Go Jong-wook, known for his powerful hitting, and the solid defensive players Park Min and Kim Gyu-seong also contributed significantly.
On the mound, the growth of Seong Yeong-tak, who was drafted in the 10th round of the 2024 rookie draft, was remarkable. After playing in the second team, he received his first call-up on May 20. Starting with the game against KT in Suwon, he pitched a total of 17⅓ scoreless innings. It was the record for the most innings without allowing a run in a rookie debut for the Tigers. He contributed significantly to the overworked bullpen, handling multiple innings. With his precise control and two-seam fastball, he emerged as a new hope for the bullpen. This year's 2nd round rookie Lee Ho-min also showed presence, helping to prevent bullpen leakage.
KIA will see the return of injured players in the second half. Infielders Kim Sun-bin and outfielder Na Sung-bum will return. The strength of the lineup is expected to increase accordingly. Additionally, Lee Eui-ri will join the starting rotation in the second half after completing his elbow rehabilitation. He will step in for Yoon Young-cheol, who was sidelined due to an elbow injury, allowing a full rotation of five starters. If Kim Do-young returns in the near future, expectations are high for KIA's strength as well. KIA managed to endure the first half through Hampyeong's resilient play, setting the stage for a comeback in the second half.
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