"Super awesome." It's been 26 years since the rookie opening game save record came out! 23-year-old Park Jung-min is the first in Lotte club history → No. 4 in league history

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants' "Super Rookie" Park Jung-min (23) made a splendid leap by decorating a page in KBO league history. It is the first time in Lotte's history and the first milestone in 26 years in the league as a whole.

Park Jung-min took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and one base in the opening game against the Samsung Lions in the 2026 KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 28th. With closer Kim Won-joong losing points and shaking, head coach Kim Tae-hyung chose "newcomer" Park Jung-min without hesitation.

He allowed a double to foreign hitter Lewin Diaz, who met for the first time, and gave a hit ball to pinch hitter Jeon Byung-woo, and was on the verge of loading the bases with one out, but Park Jung-min did not collapse. Rather, he woke up in a crisis. He defended his team's victory by striking out subsequent batters Kim Young-woong and Park Se-hyuk on three pitches in a row. Park Jung-min, who threw 15 pitches, had a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour.

Park Jung-min's save is the fourth "new opening game save" in KBO history. It is the first real record in 26 years since Yoon Seok-hwan (then OB), Park Jin-seok (then double bubble) in 1991, and Lee Seung-ho (then SK) in 2000. In particular, it is very meaningful because it is the "first" record in the club's history as a rookie pitcher for the Lotte Giants.

Park Jung-min, who had already "struck" with his six-game scoreless streak in exhibition games, completely repaid the coach's faith from the first game of the regular season. Coach Kim Tae-hyung praised rookie Park Jung-min, who took the mound in a really difficult situation, saying, "He overcame the burden and pitched so well."

Park Jung-min said, "After throwing it, I feel like I'm dreaming and I can't believe it." He also confessed what he realized when he was hit hard by Diaz in the moment of crisis. He said, "I threw it according to the sign, but it went by force. He even showed a clever side, saying, "I thought I shouldn't stick to it completely with strength."

When the bases were loaded, the solution chosen was "confidence." Recalling the situation with the bases loaded, Park Jung-min said, "I made up my mind to throw strikes with all my might without regret. The scene of catching the last out count is vivid as if it would come out in a dream," he laughed.

Park Jung-min's performance, which has emerged as a potential closing candidate for the Lotte Giants, has even written a new history of the league. Now, the expectations of home fans to face at Sajik, Lotte's home stadium, are already heating up.

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*This content was translated by AI.