After the return of WBC's four members, win! KT, the sole last place, beat NC to regain a 50% win rate in the exhibition game [KBO Exhibition Game Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The full KT Wiz was definitely different. KT, which returned to the national team of four, won three consecutive games and recaptured a 50% winning rate.

KT beat the NC Dinos 6-2 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO exhibition game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 22nd. KT, which has won three consecutive games, tied for fourth place in the exhibition game with the Samsung Lions (5 wins, 5 losses). On the other hand, NC came in sixth with four wins, one draw and five losses due to its two consecutive losses.

Coincidentally, there have been more days to win since the 17th, when the four national teams who attended the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) joined. KT, which had only two draws and three losses before that, completely rose to four wins and one loss. KT's unique woven baseball feels like a cogwheel with the return of the four members of the national university. Ahn Hyun-min, who returned first, opened with a cool off-the-field solo shot on the 19th.

Janganmun guard Ko Young-pyo ignited the rise with two hits and four strikeouts in four innings in the start against the Kiwoom Heroes on the 20th. Next-generation ace Soh Hyung-joon also showed an extraordinary class with two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in four innings against the NC Dinos on the 21st.

This is Matt Sauer, who inherited the flow. Sauer, who took the mound on the day, became the winning pitcher with five hits, two walks, four strikeouts, and two runs. Park Young-hyun, the last and closing pitcher of the four national teams, took the mound again after the match against Kiwoom on the 20th and blocked one inning with 14 balls with one strikeout and perfect, raising expectations for the regular season.

The batting lineup was also encouraging. Leadoff Sam Hilliard opened the scoring with a 2-for-4 record. Veteran players such as Kim Hyun-soo, Jang Sung-woo and Kim Sang-soo combined for four hits and three RBIs by making exquisite hits in the right place. Rookie shortstop Lee Kang-min and reserve Ryu Hyun-in increased the possibility of starting the opening game with several good defenses.

On the other hand, NC's ace Koo Chang-mo was good with one walk and one strikeout without a hit in two innings, but the bullpen collapsed and left a regret. The only comfort was that Choi Jung-won played one hit, two RBIs and one walk in one at-bats, including a sharp timely hit.

On this day, KT consisted of Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Jang Jin-hyuk (left fielder), Choi Won-joon (center fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder), Jang Sung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Sang-soo (second baseman), Huh Kyung-min (third baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (striker). The starting pitcher is Matt Sauer.

Against this, NC formed a lineup of Kim Joo-won (striker), Ko Joon-hwi (left fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Matt Davidson (first baseman), Park Gun-woo (designated hitter), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Ko Seung-wan (right fielder), and Choi Jung-won (middle fielder). The starting pitcher is Koo Chang-mo.

The first point was up to the away team NC. With two outs in the top of the second inning, Kim Hyung-joon and Ko Seung-wan made consecutive hits to create an opportunity. Choi Jung-won exquisitely kicked a cutter that fell less outside and hit a two-run timely hit to right-center.

However, KT turned the game around in just one try. Hilliard hit a hit on the right wing with two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the third inning. Choi Won-joon hit the body and got on base, and Kim Hyun-soo's pushed ball passed NC's first baseman Davison and fell into the right outfield. In the meantime, two runners homered and tied 2-2.

The third baseman homered while NC shortstop Kim Joo-won could not catch Ahn Hyun-min's ground ball. On top of that, Jang Sung-woo widened the gap by hitting a timely RBI. Kim Sang-soo got on base with another hit ball and Heo Kyung-min picked up four balls to make the fifth point. KT's 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jang Sung-woo walked, Kim Sang-soo hit left-center, and Huh Kyung-min hit the bases, and Jang Sung-woo homered by Han Seung-taek's double play.

After that, KT kept the victory with a stable waist. From the sixth inning when Sauer went down, Woo Kyu-min, Park Ji-hoon, Han Seung-hyuk and Park Young-hyun took the mound in turn, striking out one by one, and pitching a scoreless relay.

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*This content was translated by AI.