Boos explode at Kim Jae-hwan → Today (9th), he starts again as the fourth batter! Manager: "He's not worried and playing well" [Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Jae-hwan, the power hitter representing SSG Landers, visited his former team's home stadium the previous day (8th). Ironically, instead of applause, he was greeted with boos. However, he paid no heed and hit two hits, showcasing his skills. He will also start today as the fourth batter.

SSG will face the Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 5 p.m. on the 9th in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season away game.

SSG secured a 4-1 victory the previous day, recording 19 wins, 1 draw, and 14 losses, tying with the Samsung Lions (19 wins, 1 draw, 14 losses) for third place. They will now challenge for a winning series. Meanwhile, Doosan has 15 wins, 1 draw, and 19 losses, placing them seventh in the league.

For today's game, SSG set its starting lineup as follows: Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Jeong (third baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Heredia (left fielder), Otegon (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Choi Jun-woo (right fielder). The starting pitcher is Japanese pitcher Hiramoto Kojiro.

It is notable that Kim Jae-hwan is again placed in the fourth spot in the batting order. This season, he has appeared in 26 games, recording a batting average of 0.132 (91 at-bats, 12 hits), 2 home runs, 1 double, 11 RBIs, 8 runs scored, 18 walks, 28 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.209, an on-base percentage of 0.273, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.482, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.207.

After returning to the first-division roster on the 7th, he performed with 1 hit in 4 at-bats against the NC Dinos on the 7th and 2 hits and 1 run scored in 5 at-bats against Doosan the previous day.

The previous day's game was the first Doosan Jamsil home game Kim Jae-hwan played after moving to SSG following the end of the 2025 season. Before his first at-bat, Kim bowed 90 degrees to the Doosan fans. However, some Doosan fans erupted in boos. Boos also poured out each time he finished his at-bat during the game.

Before the game, SSG manager Lee Sung-yong, the team's commander, expressed confidence in Kim Jae-hwan's batting, stating, "He is actively swinging. It's just a game. He doesn't seem to be worried and is playing well."

Meanwhile, Kojiro is the foreign pitcher signed by SSG as a replacement for Mitch White (diagnosed with a minor tear in the right shoulder rotator cuff), whose acquisition was announced on the 5th. A former player for Gunma Diamond Pegassus in the Japanese independent league, SSG signed him with a total investment of 70,000 dollars (approximately 103 million won). In four starts during the Japanese independent league season this year, he pitched 21 1/3 innings, recording 2 wins, 1 loss, and an ERA of 4.64. He also recorded 35 strikeouts and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.13. His primary weapon is a heavy fastball reaching speeds up to 152 km/h.

According to SSG officials, Kojiro is the first Japanese left-handed pitcher among foreign players in the KBO League. He is also the first Japanese player (excluding Zainichi Koreans) registered as a left-handed pitcher or position player. Previous Zainichi Korean left-handed pitchers include Lotte's Park Deok-yong (1984) and Samsung's Kim Il-yong (1984–1986).

Manager Lee said today, "I am also curious. His performance is not bad. His pitch location is good, and the value of his changeup, curve, cutter, and slider is also not bad. However, since he has pitched in the independent league, the key is what kind of pitches he will throw in such a crowded and tense situation." He added, "There is no pitch count limit. He reportedly threw over 100 pitches in Japan. If he can hold the line well in the first inning, I think he will be solid." He expressed his expectations.

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*This content was translated by AI.