'And' that's why he's an iron man! LG captain who played 1,668 days without taking a single day off, 'directly' ended a 5-hour and 5-minute bloodbath: "My side was hurting..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Indeed, he is the iron man who represents the KBO League. LG Twins captain Park Hae-min (36), despite showing signs of injury, hit the game-winning hit and concluded a grueling 5-hour and 5-minute battle.

On the 8th, Park Hae-min started as the seventh hitter and center fielder in the regular-season away game against Hanwha Eagles at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park, contributing significantly to LG's 9-8 victory with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases, and 1 run scored.

Today was a special day for Park Hae-min. Continuing his consecutive game streak from the October 13, 2021, game against Gwangju KIA Tigers while playing for Samsung Lions, he reached 623 consecutive games played, securing sole second place in this category. He has not missed a single game in 1,668 days, surpassing the previous record of 622 consecutive games played by Kim Hyung-seok (then of OB Bears), who held the joint second-place record from 1989 to 1994.

The historic game, however, was anything but ordinary. Both starting pitchers collapsed before the fifth inning, leading to a high-scoring, chaotic game with 32 hits, 12 walks and hit-by-pitches, and 17 runs exchanged, lasting over five hours. This was not only the longest game of the year but also the first time in recent history, including the previous year, that a game extended beyond five hours.

Even in this high-scoring affair, Park Hae-min shone both offensively and defensively. His outstanding center field defense, so impressive that jokes circulated about Daejeon's famous bakery banning him, was complemented by his presence at the plate. In the bottom of the second inning with no outs and runners on first and second, Park Hae-min executed a surprise bunt, easily advancing to first base. With runners on second and third and one out, Lee Jae-won hit a fly ball to right field, allowing LG to take an early lead.

His second at-bat in the top of the fourth inning, which began with a walk, also showcased his speed. Park Hae-min reached second base on Lee Jae-won's single to left field that drove in one run, and third base on Lee Ju-heon's walk. During Hong Chang-gi's subsequent at-bat, Park Hae-min quickly stole home while the opposing pitcher (Kwon Min-kyu) attempted a pickoff at second, adding another run for LG. This home steal was Park Hae-min's 10th of the season, marking 13 consecutive years with at least 10 stolen bases since his first double-digit steal season in 2014 with 36 steals. Only 10 players in KBO League history, including Park Hae-min, have achieved 10 stolen bases in 13 consecutive seasons.

Park Hae-min reached base again in the top of the 7th inning after a batted ball off pitcher Jo Dong-wook bounced away, and stole second base for his 11th steal of the season. Finally, in his last at-bat, his focus shone brightly. With the score tied 8-8, Austin Dean and Oh Ji-hwan hit consecutive hits in the top of the 11th inning, creating a one-out, runners-on-second-and-third situation. Hanwha's third baseman Noh Si-hwan fielded Goo Bon-hyeok's hit and quickly threw home to retire runner Lee Young-bin, cooling LG's momentum.

At that moment, veteran Park Hae-min's wit shone. Facing pitcher Lee Min-woo, Park Hae-min suddenly feinted a bunt on the first pitch. Given Park Hae-min's well-known speed, Hanwha's infielders could not ignore the possibility of a surprise bunt. Park Hae-min then drove a high fastball, which was coming in to keep the count, and hit a one-run, bases-loaded single to left field. As expected, this was a play that leveraged his experience.

After the game, Park Hae-min said, "My back and side felt uncomfortable after swinging in the previous at-bat. That's why I intentionally showed a bunt motion in the next at-bat." He added, "I waited for a fast pitch. Since the timing of the fast pitch created an opportunity, I swung confidently, which led to a good result."

As the captain who led LG to the championship last year, he surprisingly did not give any special messages once the game went into extra innings. Park Hae-min stated, "I did not deliver any specific messages as captain during extra innings. The team's key hitters in the previous at-bats fulfilled their roles perfectly. Because they got on base, they created a decisive situation for me." He credited his teammates.

He continued, "Today (the 8th) was truly a long game. It was a tough game, so not only me but all players wanted to win. I feel great that we could conclude with a victory." He smiled broadly.

Meanwhile, Park Hae-min, who has run without rest for four years and seven months, now stands just one step away from becoming the greatest iron man in KBO history. The record for most consecutive games played in the KBO League is held by Choi Tae-won (56), who played for Ssangbangwool Raiders and SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) and is currently the head coach at Kyung Hee University, with 1,009 consecutive games. For Park Hae-min, who has played 623 consecutive games, to surpass Coach Choi Tae-won, he must continue playing without missing a game until 2028. How much further will Park Hae-min be able to extend his record?

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.