'Summoning a KBO Legend After 44 Years': .400 Hitter Park Seong-han Achieves '18 Consecutive Hits After Opening'... Ties All-Time Record with Kim Yong-hee

*This content was translated by AI.

He has added the responsibility of leading off to his already top-tier shortstop defense. Now, he has been upgraded to the hottest hitter in the KBO League. Park Seong-han (28, SSG Landers) has tied the all-time KBO League record for consecutive hits after the season opener.

On the 19th, Park Seong-han started as the leadoff shortstop in an away game against NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, recording a ground-rule double to right field against NC starter Toda Natuki in his first at-bat of the first inning.

He has now extended his hit streak to 18 consecutive games since the season opener. This ties the record set by Kim Yong-hee, currently the 2nd team manager of Lotte Giants, who achieved the same feat while playing for Lotte in the league's inaugural year in 1982.

Previously, Park Seong-han had recorded 18 consecutive hits from the the 11th, 2024, game against Lotte in Incheon through the the 28th, 2025, game against Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome. If he adds another hit in the upcoming visit to Samsung Lions on the 21st, he will not only break the all-time KBO record but also set a new personal record for consecutive games with a hit.

Selected by SK Wyverns (the predecessor of SSG) as the 16th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 rookie draft, Park Seong-han spent his first two seasons with the team before fulfilling his military service with the Army Baseball Team (Sangmu) and returning in 2020.

In 2021, the franchise was reborn as SSG, and Park Seong-han rose to become a regular starter at the same time. He recorded a .300 batting average over the following two seasons, though he experienced some fluctuations last year with a .274 average.

However, starting from the latter half of the season, he was deployed as the leadoff hitter, which actually boosted his hitting form. He has now firmly established himself as SSG's undisputed leadoff hitter this season. Relying on his excellent on-base percentage, he has earned the absolute trust of manager Lee Seung-yong, and Park Seong-han has now completely shed any pressure and secured his position.

In 17 games this season, he boasts a dominant .470 batting average (31 hits in 66 at-bats), ranking first in the league. He has consistently placed near the top in most batting categories, emerging as the league's premier hitter beyond just the SSG lineup.

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*This content was translated by AI.