Again. Again. Again, a starting lineup hit! The record-breaker for the most hits by a starting lineup in the KBO was neither Samsung nor LG... How did KT manage it without An Hyun-min and Heo Kyung-min?

*This content was translated by AI.

It doesn't look like a team missing last year's Rookie of the Year and starting third baseman. KT Wiz is firmly holding the top spot with explosive batting power.

On the 22nd, KT defeated KIA 8-3 in a regular-season home game at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, KT secured a winning series with two consecutive victories, improving to 15 wins and 6 losses, maintaining sole first place by a half-game margin. Meanwhile, KIA, now on a four-game losing streak, fell to 10 wins and 11 losses, dropping below a .500 winning percentage.

For KT, this opponent was James Neale, who led KIA to the Korean Series championship in 2024, so a tough matchup was anticipated. In fact, Neale had been very strong against KT, posting a 0.75 ERA in six games prior to this contest. Despite having the best head-to-head record among the remaining nine KBO teams, it was strange that he had only managed three wins and two losses.

Accordingly, KT deployed a tailored strategy, placing left-handed batters in all spots from first to sixth. KT's lineup that day consisted of Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Lee Jung-hoon (designated hitter), Sam Heilery (center fielder), Kwon Dong-jin (third baseman), Oh Yun-seok (second baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (shortstop).

It was a huge success. In the bottom of the 2nd inning with one out, Heilery reached base with a deep infield hit to the shortstop area, followed by Kwon Dong-jin's single to right field. Neale fielded Oh Yun-seok's subsequent ground ball and chose to attempt a play at home, but Heilery's speed was faster. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, leadoff batter Choi Won-jun drew a walk and stole second base, and Kim Min-hyuk hit a one-run single to center field, extending KT's lead by another run.

The top of the lineup continued to hit singles, while the bottom of the lineup harassed Neale with bunts and other tactics. Neale was pulled early after pitching 5 innings (98 pitches), allowing 6 hits, issuing 2 walks (1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch), striking out 4 batters, and giving up 2 earned runs.

As soon as Neale was replaced, KT succeeded in scoring a large number of runs. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Kim Hyun-soo reached base with an infield hit, and with two outs and the bases loaded, Han Seung-taek recorded a lucky hit that bounced back after being hit by pitcher Kim Do-young.

Lee Kang-min, who had not recorded a hit up to that point, targeted the first pitch from the new pitcher Jo Sang-woo and hit a two-run single to left field, enabling KT to achieve hits by all starting lineup batters for the third time this season.

Five teams have achieved hits by all starting lineup batters this season. KT recorded the first instance on March 28 against Jamsil LG Twins. Hanwha Eagles did so on March 29 against Daejeon Kiwoom Heroes, LG on April 5 against Gocheok Kiwoom, KIA on April 8 against Gwangju Samsung Lions, and NC Dinos on April 14 against Changwon KT.

KT recorded the sixth and seventh instances of all starting lineup batters getting hits in the KBO on April 17 against Suwon Kiwoom and against KIA on this day. This achievement is even more remarkable as it came after starting third baseman Heo Kyung-min (36) and last year's Rookie of the Year and right fielder An Hyun-min (23) were both sidelined due to hamstring injuries.

According to the KBO, KT is the only team to achieve hits by all starting lineup batters twice or more this season. This performance is vastly different from pre-season expectations. Experts had pointed to Samsung, which added Choi Hyung-woo (43), and last year's champion LG as the top contenders for the title.

The main reasons were LG's well-structured lineup with no breaks from first to ninth, and Samsung's powerful offense leading the league in home runs.

However, KT, which acquired key free agents such as Kim Hyun-soo (38) and Choi Won-jun (29), is surging to sole first place with formidable offensive power in the early season, overturning expectations. Recently, players called up from the 2nd team, including Jang Jun-won, Kim Min-hyuk, and Bae Jeong-dae, have effectively filled the gaps. The evaluation is that the newly added players and existing starters are engaging in fierce competition, generating positive synergy.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol, ahead of the 22nd Suwon KIA game, said, "Jang Jun-won, Kim Min-hyuk, and Bae Jeong-dae are not backups. They were starters just last year." He added with a smile, "It's a pity that the injured players are out, but other players are performing well. Won't that create competition? Last year, there was a clear difference between starters and non-starters, but this year is different."

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*This content was translated by AI.