'ERA 0.68→6.32 Surge': The Fall of the Ironclad Closer, a Perfect Bait Turned into a Home Run... The Worst-Case Scenario for SSG's Bullpen Becomes the Worst Instead of the Best

*This content was translated by AI.

"Don't worry about the closers."

SSG Landers manager Lee Sung-yong (55) expressed firm confidence in the closers ahead of the game. While the baseball of faith seemed to unfold according to the script, it ultimately ended in the worst possible outcome.

On the 3rd, SSG suffered a 5-2 comeback loss against the Lotte Giants in a home game at the Incheon SSG Landers Field as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Despite having a powerful closer group, they failed to maintain their lead. Looking back, there is one particularly regrettable moment worth reflecting on.

Was it due to the struggles of the starting rotation? The trusted closers have been faltering one after another. Nevertheless, Manager Lee expressed unwavering trust. "I don't worry too much about it," Lee said. "Because during a game, you can expect a crisis to occur up to three times at most." He added, "They performed exceptionally well last season. There were some ups and downs last year as well, but I believe they will wisely overcome them. My faith in the closers is absolute."

Temporary starter Baek Seung-geon pitched a spirited 4 innings, allowing only one run. The offense scored one run in the first inning aided by luck, and then extended the lead with a solo home run by Choi Ji-hoon in the second inning.

With a day off approaching, the bullpen was deployed early. Although Baek Seung-geon, making his first start in the first division since the 2023 season, threw only 62 pitches, Moon Seung-won was brought in from the fifth inning. The priority was not to drag out long innings but to securely protect the lead.

Moon Seung-won surrendered only one walk and recorded two innings. Lee Ro-un, who appeared in the seventh inning, had collapsed in the previous game, allowing five runs in just one-third of an inning, but he managed to hold the line steadily for one inning.

The eighth inning belonged to Kim Min. Another closer, Noh Kyung-eun, was pitching for the third consecutive day and was unavailable for duty today. Kim Min had allowed only two runs (one earned) in 12 games since the season opener, with an ERA of just 0.68. However, on the 28th of last month during a game against Hanwha, he struggled to throw strikes, failed to record a single out, and surrendered three walks and two runs (one earned).

He appeared again on the 30th and completed one inning but allowed two runs. In the game against Lotte on the 1st, he allowed three hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs and taking the loss.

Kim Min began by allowing a hit to the leadoff batter, Jeon Min-jae, to the gap in center-right field. He engaged in a battle with Han Tae-yang on the inside corner, inducing a foul fly from the catcher. He then struck out Jang Du-seong with a tightly located two-seam fastball on the inside lower part.

It was still too early to relax. After a seven-pitch battle with Yoon Dong-hee, he issued a walk, resulting in two outs with runners on first and second. The coaching staff came to the mound, but they decided to trust Kim Min once more without making a substitution. There was also the option to call upon the ironclad closer Jo Byung-hyun, who has maintained a sub-1.00 ERA, one step earlier, but as previously stated, the plan was to give Kim Min the opportunity, aiming to use him for only one inning if possible.

The result was the worst. With a favorable 1-2 count, he threw a low-changing pitch, but Rayeyes connected perfectly. He ultimately surrendered a three-run home run, handing the ball to Han Du-sol.

It was not a mistake. The pitch was intended to induce a swing and miss or a weak contact from Rayeyes, and it appeared to be well-planned and executed. However, the outcome was the worst. He became the losing pitcher once again, following the previous game, and his ERA has now skyrocketed to 6.32.

Had he recorded an out against Rayeyes, he could have pitched scoreless for the fourth consecutive game and handed the ball to Jo Byung-hyun from the ninth inning, potentially ending the team's losing streak. However, the result was 180 degrees different from expectations.

While pitcher substitutions can be viewed as a matter of hindsight, ultimately, all responsibility falls on the manager. It was clear what Manager Lee Sung-yong intended. It was a choice that showed firm trust in Kim Min while also reflecting the expectation that if he could overcome this hurdle, he would regain his form as if nothing had happened. Kim Min had been pitching so well, but after one painful result in the Hanwha game, his sharp decline has continued for an extended period. For SSG, concerns over how to best utilize Kim Min have inevitably grown.

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*This content was translated by AI.