'ERA 0.77' KIA right-hander racks up 10 runs, even seeks advice from national team left-hander! 'Batting average against 0.083' How did the right-handed batter's grim reaper come to be? [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers right-handed pitcher Sung Young-tak (22) has thrilled fans with performances that even veterans seek advice from.

Sung Young-tak is considered KIA's top hit product in the early part of the 2026 season. Sung Young-tak, who graduated from Dongju Elementary (Busan Seoguri Little League), Gaeseong Middle School, and Busan High School, was drafted in the 10th round, 96th overall, in the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft. As of the end of the game on the 22nd, he has recorded 10 games with no wins or losses, an ERA of 0.77, 3 holds, 2 saves, 11⅔ innings pitched, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.94, and a batting average against of 0.222, emerging as a top-tier reliever in the league.

His outstanding performance has also secured him the closer role. After existing closer Jung Hae-young (25) struggled in the game against Daejeon Hanwha on the 10th and was subsequently demoted from the first team, Sung Young-tak took over the closing duties. In his first appearance as a closer, he earned a save with 1⅔ innings pitched and one run allowed, and continued to rise in form. He recorded four consecutive scoreless outings and successfully secured a save with two innings pitched in the match against Suwon KT on the 21st.

Ahead of the match against Suwon KT on the 22nd, Sung Young-tak smiled and said, "I was originally a starter type, so multi-inning appearances don't pose much of a problem. Of course, pitching as a starter differs from multi-inning relief, but the manager and coaches have managed my condition well, so I haven't felt tired."

Even veterans flock to the young teammate who confidently dominates opponents with his pitching in critical situations. Sung Young-tak shyly remarked, "Recently, my senior players have been asking me what I'm thinking when I step onto the mound." He added, "I told Lee Ui-ri at the time that I pitch with the mindset of breaking through the catcher's mitt. They ask a lot about my mindset, but honestly, I just pitch without overthinking."

Such excellent results cannot be achieved by mindset alone. This year, Sung Young-tak is known as a devil against right-handed batters. Against right-handed batters, he boasts an extremely strong batting average against of 0.083 (24 at-bats, 2 hits) and an OPS against of 0.245.

His secret lies in his well-developed two-seam fastball and slider. This year, his pitch usage rate is 49.4% for the two-seam fastball, 37.5% for the slider, and 11.3% for the curveball, making it nearly a two-pitch repertoire. Against right-handed batters, these pitches are devastating.

Additionally, his fastball velocity has increased significantly, reaching up to 149 km/h, amplifying its power. Conversely, against left-handed batters, he shows a batting average against of 0.400 (20 at-bats, 8 hits) and an OPS against of 0.800, highlighting areas that need improvement in the future.

Sung Young-tak stated firmly, "I think the recent success of my two-seam fastball and slider landing precisely where I want them has led to these good results. Recently, I've been able to place both pitches exactly where I intend and then pull them back. I believe the fact that I didn't stop weight training after last season ended also helped."

He continued, "I'm still practicing my changeup quite a bit. For now, rather than relying on an underdeveloped changeup, I'm throwing the pitch I'm most confident in, even against left-handed batters. However, I'm working on throwing the changeup as naturally as a cutter. Recently, I received help from my senior Choi Jimin. After trying it out, I feel it's a bit better. I'm continuing to search for the changeup that suits me best."

The remarkable turnaround of Sung Young-tak, a right-handed pitcher with slow velocity drafted in the 10th round, was made possible by the meticulous attention of KIA's scouts and the efforts of the development team. Despite serving as the de facto ace during his time at Busan High School, Sung Young-tak was not selected until the 10th round due to his relatively low velocity of just over 140 km/h.

However, KIA scouts paid close attention to Sung Young-tak both on and off the field, and the data analysis team identified his optimal pitch mix. As a result, the 10th-round right-hander who once threw four-seam fastballs, sliders, and forkballs has transformed into a top-tier right-hander in the league equipped with two-seam fastballs, sliders, and curveballs. Of course, it was Sung Young-tak himself who achieved this challenging transformation.

A KIA team scout recently told StarNews, "At the time, Young-tak was a right-hander with a small frame and lacked velocity, which caused his draft position to drop significantly." He further explained, "Despite his low velocity, he excelled in game management and was extremely diligent, which raised our expectations. Since he had good control, we judged that even a fastball clocking 145 km/h would be competitive. We introduced the two-seam fastball in the second team, and it seems to have improved even more since then."

As he was originally a starting pitcher resource, if he successfully adds the changeup to his arsenal, KIA will gain another domestic starter. However, Sung Young-tak himself has never rushed.

Sung Young-tak expressed his ambitious goals, saying, "Relief pitching is also fun. There's the thrill of extinguishing fires in tense situations and the satisfaction of firmly securing winning games. Rather than aiming to be a closer, I'm just happy to be pitching in the first team. For the remaining period, I'm not focusing on detailed statistics; my goal is to stay healthy and play full time."

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*This content was translated by AI.