'The Life Journey of Kim Kwang-hyun's Successor' Kim Geon-woo Achieves First 7-Inning Scoreless-3 Win: "My Mindset Was to Win No Matter What" [Incheon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

With his role model sidelined due to injury, the native ace spot was secured. On the day Kim Kwang-hyun (38) visited his teammates after a long absence, Kim Geon-woo (24, both SSG Landers) took flight.

Kim Geon-woo started against KT Wiz at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 24th in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game, throwing 107 pitches over 7 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and recording 7 strikeouts in a scoreless outing.

He allowed 5 runs, including two home runs by Choi Jeong, but Moon Seung-won cleanly held the line for 2 innings from the 8th, securing the team's third win of the season. His ERA dropped sharply from 5.00 to 3.60.

A local boy born and raised in Incheon, who attended Gahyeon Elementary, Dongsan Middle, and Jeongmulpo High School before being selected as the final first-round pick by SK Wyverns (the predecessor of SSG) in 2021, Kim Geon-woo could not establish himself in the first division. He fulfilled his military obligation with the Army Baseball Team (Sangmu), suffered an elbow injury, underwent surgery, completed rehabilitation, and returned to the team in 2024.

Kim Geon-woo, who had been active in the bullpen last year, began starting games from the middle of the season and left a particularly strong impression toward the end of the season. In the semi-playoffs, he demonstrated monstrous power by recording 7 strikeouts over 3⅓ innings, raising expectations for this season.

Ahead of this season, Kim Kwang-hyun unexpectedly ended up on the operating table. The burden on the shoulders of 'Post Kim Kwang-hyun' Kim Geon-woo grew heavier. Manager Lee Seung-yong entrusted Kim Geon-woo with the role of the native ace starter.

Kim Geon-woo, who secured a win (5 innings, 2 earned runs) in his season debut against KIA Tigers on the 29th of last month, was pulled after allowing 4 runs in just 1⅓ innings against Lotte Giants on the 4th, but quickly found his rhythm afterward.

On this day, he faced Caleb Bouchillon, who was evaluated as the league's top pitcher this season, and instead dominated him. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol explained the reason for excluding rookie Lee Kang-min from the starting lineup before the game: "SSG's pitcher is a lefty, and they say he's extremely strong against right-handed batters. I thought it would be better to let him face left-handed batters and use his excellent changeup. However, they couldn't handle the left-handed pitcher's changeup well. So I thought it would be better to give him a rest for this opportunity."

Until this game, he had held opposing batters to a batting average of 0.189 against right-handed hitters, but on this day, he dominated both left- and right-handed batters with overwhelming pitching, completing 7 innings.

Bouchillon threw 91 pitches over 5 innings, allowing 8 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts, giving up 4 runs. He took the loss after his four-game winning streak, and his ERA skyrocketed from 0.78 to 1.93, but Kim Geon-woo was different.

In the top of the 1st inning with one out, he allowed a walk and a hit, putting himself in a 1st and 3rd base crisis. However, he boldly threw a curveball inside to Jang Seong-woo, inducing a ground ball to the shortstop for a double play, erasing the scoring threat.

Kim Geon-woo easily held the line until the 4th inning, but faced another crisis in the 5th. With one out and a runner on first, Kwon Dong-jin's batted ball fell between the center fielder and infielders. Kang Hyun-woo was called out at second base due to a misjudgment of the ball, and he recorded Choi Won-jun with a first baseman's ground ball, continuing his scoreless pitching.

After retiring the side in order in the 6th, Kim Geon-woo, having thrown 90 pitches, returned in the 7th. He struck out Sam Hilliard, induced a third baseman's ground ball from Oh Yun-seok, and turned a first baseman's foul fly from pinch-hitter Yoo Jun-gyu, finishing his career's first 7-inning outing scoreless. He recorded his first high-quality start (7+ innings, 2 or fewer earned runs).

He threw 38 fastballs clocked at a top speed of 146 km/h, mixing in 27 sliders, 22 changeups, and 20 curveballs. He used the curveball to steal timing and get counts, utilizing the fastball, slider, and changeup all as decisive pitches.

After the game, manager Lee Seung-yong praised: "Thanks to Geon-woo's perfect performance and our active offense, we were able to secure a four-game winning streak. On the mound, starter Kim Geon-woo navigated the 1st inning crisis well and fully took responsibility for 7 innings. He is proving his value as a starter."

Kim Geon-woo shared his thoughts: "It was my first season as a starting pitcher, and I think I was able to pitch well because everyone helped me so much. I want to express my deep gratitude to the pitchers, training coaches, and the performance analysis department. My parents came to watch the game today. After I finished pitching and came down, I looked toward my parents, and they stood up and were applauding. I'm glad and happy to have shown them a good performance today."

"I didn't expect to pitch in the 7th. When I completed 6 innings, I thought 'that's it.' When the coach asked if I was okay, I said I was fine, but the situation required more runs to stay in. However, senior Choi Jeong hit a home run, which allowed me to stay in the 7th. In the 7th, I got two outs and looked toward the dugout. Honestly, with two outs and a high pitch count, I thought I would be replaced, but there was no movement. So I threw with the mindset of needing to get more outs, and when I finally completed exactly 7 innings, I think the sense of relief that 'that's it' was even greater."

Before the game, Kim Kwang-hyun, who had returned to Korea after completing surgery and rehabilitation schedules in Japan, sent a coffee truck and food truck as gifts for the players. He personally visited the stadium and greeted his teammates after a long absence. Kim Geon-woo said: "I saw my senior after a long time. I had been in contact, and when he came today, he encouraged me a lot to do well. So I pitched with the mindset of winning no matter what."

He secured the most wins among starting pitchers with 3. Kim Geon-woo said: "It was great to be able to pitch in front of many fans with loud cheers after a long time. I will show a responsible attitude and continue to deliver good pitching to the fans who have supported us so much."

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*This content was translated by AI.