"I don't deserve to eat."" 2 billion Hanwha → KIA 'Fierce self-reflection' Why... Still, I trust the head coach

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA suffered unexpected pitching difficulties and lost its opening two consecutive games. In particular, the FA transfer student, who showed a good ERA of "0" during the exhibition game, reflected and reflected again. This is the story of Kim Bum-soo (31), a pitcher of the "2 billion Free Agent (FA)."

KIA lost 6-11 in the away game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season against SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 29th. KIA, which suffered a come-from-behind loss at the end of the sixth and ninth innings in the opening game a day earlier, lost two consecutive games.

Above all, the loss of the opening game was regrettable. It was no exaggeration to say that I missed the virtually all-win game. It was even more regrettable because the starting point that handed over the flow was Kim Bum-soo, who showed good performance in the exhibition game.

On this day, KIA's first foreign starter ace James Nail pitched a scoreless pitch until the sixth inning. And in the bottom of the seventh inning, when KIA is leading 5-0.

KIA lowered its starting nail and put Kim Bum-soo as the second pitcher. But Kim Bum-soo was shaken. He allowed leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan to walk for the seventh time after a full count match. He then allowed Ko Myung-joon to hit right-center on the third pitch and a hit to the right-center on the sixth pitch to the follow-up Jihoon Choi, causing a full base crisis with no outs.

That's all for Kim Bum-soo's pitch. Sung Young-tak took over the mound, and Kim Bum-soo's runs increased to three points with foil and timely hits. In the end, KIA, which allowed the pursuit by two points, scored one more point in the top of the ninth inning, but lost 6-7 after giving up four points in the bottom of the ninth inning.

If Kim Bum-soo hadn't created a crisis, we don't know what would have happened to the game. The head coach was also disappointed. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said about Kim Bum-soo ahead of the match against Incheon SSG on the 29th, "I came as a FA and went to an important situation in the first game, and also in the opening game. After the game, I met with senior coach Son Seung-rak at the sauna at the accommodation, and he said Kim Bum-soo said, "I don't deserve to eat."

"I'm not even a rookie, but I understand why I was so nervous. There was a change coming to the new team, and I would have liked to do well in that team. In addition, I think there must have been enough tension because I went to the mound in an important situation. Still, I think he will continue to throw well in the future," he said, giving a firm trust.

Manager Lee said, "I think our bullpen pitchers have a good ability. I think bullpen pitchers need to be firmly supported behind the starters to achieve results this year. Faith will not waver. However, in the case of pitchers who have a lot of thoughts, they can make changes little by little. Still, it's very good for the team to move the bullpen well like this. I will give you faith and move together," he said again.

Now, KIA will play three consecutive games during the week against the 'defending champion' LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium from the 31st to April 2nd after a day off on the 30th. Will KIA, whose mound collapsed for two days in a row, reorganize its battle lines and fight back.

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*This content was translated by AI.