*This content was translated by AI.
"I pray, 'My records don't matter. Just let the team win.'"
Although he unexpectedly took on the role of captain due to Kim Kwang-hyun's (38) injury, Oh Tae-gon (35, both SSG Landers) is leading the team with the natural demeanor of a born captain.
On the 29th, Oh Tae-gon started at first base and batted eighth in the visiting game against Hanwha Eagles at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. He delivered a standout performance with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 walk, 4 RBIs, and 1 run, including a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, leading the team to a 6-1 victory.
The team was on a five-game winning streak but had suffered a crushing 2-12 defeat to KT Wiz, and the day before, they endured a painful loss in extra innings after their bullpen collapsed in a game where they had been leading. With the possibility of a losing streak looming, the captain of SSG stepped up to save the team.
In the top of the second inning, with the score tied 0-0, opposing starter Hwang Jun-seo's control wavered, allowing a walk to Han Yu-seom and a single to the left field by Choi Ji-hoon. Hwang Jun-seo, trying to get out of the jam by turning Ryu Hyo-seung into a third baseman's foul fly, was relentlessly shaken. As a 125 km/h forkball in the first pitch dug into the middle of the plate, Oh Tae-gon swung without mercy, and the ball soared over the left-center field wall for a go-ahead three-run home run. It was Oh Tae-gon's second home run of the season.
Oh Tae-gon's home run rattled Hanwha's pitching staff, and the team subsequently drew five walks to add two more runs. Starting pitcher Mitch White held the line with only one run allowed through the fourth inning before exiting due to shoulder discomfort, but SSG had already built a lead. In the fifth inning, they drove in a go-ahead RBI with a two-run single to center field against Park Jun-young, securing the team's victory.
Even as Hwang Jun-seo was struggling, Oh Tae-gon swung freely from the first pitch to hit the home run. "I went in with a plan," he said. "Hwang Jun-seo throws fastballs, forkballs, and curveballs. I wondered if he would give me a fastball with a runner on base." He added, "Also, Ryu Hyo-seung had just hit a fastball, so I thought a breaking ball would come next, and I went in with a plan. It turned out to be lucky."
He attempted a bold change. Oh Tae-gon said, "Recently, I haven't been hitting the first pitch well. I was a bit passive, and I kept watching, and yesterday, all of them were strikes. Today, I decided to swing boldly. I thought, 'I just need to play defense and run the bases, so I'll swing boldly at the plate,' and that mindset led to a good result."
Despite his performance today, Oh Tae-gon's season batting average stands at .245 (12 hits in 49 at-bats), which is somewhat disappointing. However, in scoring positions, he is a completely different hitter. He has 8 hits in 18 at-bats, boasting a .444 batting average and 11 RBIs.
This is the result of intense deliberation. Oh Tae-gon said, "In scoring positions, I go in with a plan and try to read the pitcher and catcher's thoughts one more time. I think, 'What will they throw to me?' and sometimes it works out well. Sometimes it doesn't, but I think luck is on my side." He humbly added, "The scouting reports are excellent, and they ask a lot of questions before I step into the batter's box. I think I've been lucky."
It can also be seen that his captain's spirit, thinking only of the team, is translating into results in scoring positions. Regarding his role as captain, Oh Tae-gon said, "Honestly, I worry a lot. Even during the national anthem, I always pray, 'My records don't matter. Just let the team win.' In return, I pray not to get injured. Please, I don't need to do anything, just let the team win." He explained, "I believe I have value only if the team performs well, so my motto is to go long and steady."
This is also linked to his ability to create decisive moments in the later stages of games. Among fans, Oh Tae-gon is sometimes called "the man of 9 o'clock." This is because he tends to create decisive moments after 9 p.m.
Oh Tae-gon said, "Fans keep saying that. I've been monitoring it too, and when I watched yesterday's video, they kept showing the time during my at-bats." He smiled, "Since they say I hit in the later innings, I just thought, 'Well, I don't know,' and went in a bit more comfortably."
Therefore, the home run that gave the team an early lead was even more significant. Oh Tae-gon said, "Today was good. The team was on a two-game losing streak, and the pitchers had been used a lot, so we needed runs. I feel very good that I could help the team."
Oh Tae-gon began his professional career with Lotte Giants and moved to KT Wiz and then SK Wyverns through two trades. Oh Tae-gon, who experienced a championship in 2022, signed an FA contract for up to 1.8 billion won over four years after the season ended. This season is the final year of his contract, making personal performance even more important.
Oh Tae-gon said cautiously, "This is the last year of my contract, and I really want to step on the Cheongna Dome. That is my biggest goal." He added, "My life as a player with the Landers has been so happy. I've met a great team at this age. They are building the best Dong-gu Stadium, so I think I should step on it before retiring."
A captain who thinks only of the team looks only to the championship. Oh Tae-gon said, "It's so great to have a championship ring. I never made it to the Korean Series with KT, but here, I experienced the Korean Series for the first time and won the championship." He expressed his wish, "I didn't get to feel that taste and atmosphere, and I want to feel it again. I think it would be so cool to win the championship as a captain."
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*This content was translated by AI.
