'With' KIA, this monster has hit '3 hits → 2 hits → 2 hits → 2 hits' for a 0.529 batting average, and even earned the Taeguk mark at age 20, AG

*This content was translated by AI.

Although the team lost, there was a protagonist who brought joy to KIA Tigers fans, and that was the '20-year-old leadoff hitter' Park Jae-hyun.

On the 12th, KIA lost 1-5 to the Doosan Bears in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. With this loss, KIA recorded 17 wins, 1 draw, and 20 losses. The team currently sits in sixth place, tied with the Hanwha Eagles.

Starting as the leadoff hitter and left fielder, Park Jae-hyun went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one walk, achieving three times on base.

In the bottom of the first inning, he appeared as the leadoff batter and, facing a 0-2 count, hit a curveball on the third pitch for a hit to left-center field. Taking advantage of an error by the opposing right fielder Cameron's throw, he reached second base. Later, during Kim Ho-ryeong's sacrifice bunt, he advanced to third base, and when Kim Seon-bin hit a sacrifice fly to left field, he scored, giving the team the first run.

In the second inning, Park was retired on a ground ball to second base. In the fourth inning, after a full count battle extending to eight pitches, he was struck out looking. This was also a moment where Doosan's starting pitcher Choi Seung-yong delivered an excellent low-zone fastball on his eighth pitch.

In the seventh inning, with one out and no runners on base, Park hit a double to left-center field. However, the following two batters made outs, and no run scored. In the ninth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, he drew a walk on the fifth pitch against Doosan closer Lee Young-ha. This marked the moment Park successfully reached base three times in the game.

Park Jae-hyun, who graduated from Dongmakcho Elementary School, Jaeneung Middle School, and Incheon High School, was selected by KIA in the third round, 25th overall, in the 2025 Rookie Draft. His signing bonus was 100 million won, and his salary for this year is 50 million won.

Last season, Park played in 58 games, finishing with a batting average of 0.081, 3 RBIs, and 11 runs scored. However, this season he has been absolutely dominant. In 35 games, he has posted a batting average of 0.339 (115 at-bats, 39 hits), 5 home runs, 7 doubles, 19 RBIs, 20 runs scored, 8 stolen bases (1 failed), 10 walks, 23 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.530, an on-base percentage of 0.392, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.922, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.400.

His batting average over the last 10 games is 0.450. On the 2nd against KT Wiz and on the 5th against Hanwha Eagles, he recorded 4-hit games, and on the 8th against Lotte Giants, he hit 3 hits. He then followed up with 2-hit games on the 9th against Lotte, on the 10th against Lotte, and on this day against Doosan. Over the last 4 games, he went 9-for-17, reaching a batting average of 0.529 during that span.

Manager Lee Beom-ho commented on Park Jae-hyun: "I think playing many games last year has been helpful. He looks relaxed at the plate. He knows well when to swing and when not to. His defense also seems to be paying off from extensive practice. He has significantly improved in tracking balls and making catches. If Park Jae-hyun continues to perform at this level, he is excelling in hitting, fielding, and base running. At this level, I consider him top-tier. We, the coaching staff, need to monitor his condition closely to ensure he stays healthy and continues to perform well."

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*This content was translated by AI.