It is important for the KIA Tigers of professional baseball to find a new must-win pitcher this winter to achieve their second consecutive KBO League title next season.
This year, the bullpen pitcher's mound consisting of Jung Hae-young, Jeon Sang-hyun, Jang Hyun-sik, Kwak Do-gyu, and Lee Joon-young was one of the driving forces behind his rise to the championship for the first time in seven years. Jung made 31 saves to become the king of saves in his debut, and setup man Jeon Sang-hyun helped with 19 holds.
On top of that, Jang Hyun-sik pitched 75 ⅓ innings, and left-hander Kwak Do-kyu, who showed remarkable growth, had a good performance with a 16-hold ERA of 3.56.
However, one of them will not be able to join the team from next year. Jang Hyun-sik, who became a free agent after the end of this season, left Kia on April 11 by signing a four-year contract worth 5.2 billion won (approx.안전놀이터
KIA's bullpen is still considered strong, but it is necessary to fill the vacancy of Jang Hyun-sik, who saved the team from many crises by playing the most innings among the team's middle pitchers.
Left-hander Choi Ji-min, who only had a 5.09 ERA in 56 games this year, should play his part next season and find a bullpen pitcher to join the winning team.
"With Jang Hyun-sik out, we need to find a player who can play a role in the bullpen," KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said. "I hope young players such as Yoo Seung-cheol, Kim Ki-hoon and Kim Hyun-soo, who failed to blossom this year, will grow further, and we are looking forward to rookie Kim Tae-hyung and Yang Soo-ho. If these players grow, the team will become stronger."
It is also possible to consider using one of Hwang Dong-ha and Kim Do-hyun, who played impressively as an alternative starting pitcher this year, as a relief pitcher.
Hwang Dong-ha pitched one ⅓ scoreless inning in two games of the Korean Series, and Kim Do-hyun also pitched as a relief pitcher in both games and pitched three innings of one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts.
The two players will first train as starting pitchers in next year's spring camp.
The best hit product for the KIA pitching staff this year was Kwak Do-gyu, who became a must-win pitcher. As Kwak Do-gyu filled the void of Choi Ji-min, who suffered ups and downs, KIA opened its breath to manage the bullpen.