*This content was translated by AI.
Yang Hyun-jong (38), a "great pitcher," delivered a heavy message on behalf of the KIA Tigers.
On the 23rd, the KIA Tigers team left for Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, the venue of the spring camp, via Gimpo International Airport. They will pass through Tokyo, stay for a day, and then enter Amami-Oshima on the 24th. Prior to this, on the previous day (22nd), four foreign players, including coach Lee Bum-ho and the coaching staff, James Nail, Adam Oler, Harold Castro and Gerid Dale (Asia Quarter), headed to Amami-Oshima first.
Yang Hyun-jong, who was interviewed by reporters on the day, said, "The biggest change is the place," adding, "It is the first time (KIA) has left Gimpo Airport." So it's a little new, and I always tell you this, but I feel excited. He said, "I feel like I came up on a bus from Gwangju with the feeling that 'the season has begun now.'
Yang Hyun-jong then delivered a message with a heavy resonance. He said, "There are a lot of things about us. "There are a lot of comments saying that I won the championship the year before last year and that I didn't work out a little bit last year, but I think that's a bad part of the story."
Yang Hyun-jong said, "Anyway, it's the kind of position we have to show you with the results. I think we prepared for the season by taking responsibility for not producing results, thinking more and reflecting on it. Even when I saw the players' individual sports throughout the winter, I always felt sorry," he said, bending his head down.
Yang Hyun-jong said, "I did too well but my performance was bad. Fans must have expected a lot last year, but it was always hard for the players because they finished so poorly. Of course, it's important to work hard, but I'm going to start anew with a feeling of sorry for the fans, but I'm going to participate in the camp with a feeling of reflection," he said.
Yang joined Kia in 2007. This year marks the 20th year of my professional career. He said, "It may be rude, but I think he's trying not to set a goal. When I said I was going to lower it to 150 innings last season, I think I was tied to it a lot. This year, I'm really trying to work hard only on the roles that the coaches and coaches have assigned me. Personally, if I throw 150 or 170 innings, wouldn't it be a nuisance to young players. That's what I thought this season. If there's anything to help young starting pitchers, I'd really help them a lot. Of course, I will try not to lose the competition. Then, I think the team will of course be able to perform well," he said.
Meanwhile, Yang Hyun-jong signed a free agent (FA) contract with KIA in December last year for a total of 4.5 billion won, including a down payment of 1 billion won, annual salary, and incentives. It was the third FA contract after 2016 and 2021. Yang Hyun-jong, who graduated from Gwangju Dongseong High School and was designated by KIA in the second round in 2007, pitched 2,656.2 innings in 543 games in 18 KBO league seasons until the 2025 season, marking 186 wins and 2185 strikeouts with a 3.90 ERA.
Yang Hyun-jong has spent 18 seasons with KIA except for the 2021 season when he entered the Major League, writing a myriad of records. He played a role in KIA's selection every season and ranked first in the league (442 games), first in the most starts (184 wins), first in the most strikeouts, and second in the most innings ever. Above all, Yang Hyun-jong showed a steady appearance by writing a milestone in the inning category. After achieving 170 innings for the first 10 consecutive seasons in the league in 2024 season, he became the first player in the league to successfully pitch 150 innings for 11 consecutive seasons in the 2025 season. In the 2026 season, Yang Hyun-jong will try to break the record of 3,000 innings (the second time ever), the most innings, and the most wins.
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*This content was translated by AI.
