'This can't be!' Kim Woong-bin, who toppled Jo Byung-hyun on consecutive days, sets a historic KBO record: first-ever 'consecutive walk-off hits against the same pitcher' in 45 years of league history

*This content was translated by AI.

An unprecedented event that would be hard to find even in a baseball manga became reality at Gocheok Sky Dome. Kim Woong-bin (30), an infielder for Kiwoom Heroes, became the first person in 45 years of KBO League history to achieve a record no one had ever reached: hitting walk-off hits against the same pitcher in two consecutive games.

Kim Woong-bin demonstrated clutch ability to end games on consecutive days during the midweek home series against SSG Landers held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 18th and 19th. What is astonishing is that the pitcher who fell victim to the back-to-back walk-offs on both days was SSG closer Jo Byung-hyun (24).

While 'walk-offs in two consecutive games' is itself a rare record in league history, hitting walk-off hits against the same pitcher on consecutive days is a first for Kim Woong-bin since the inception of professional baseball in 1982.

In KBO League history, only a very small number of batters have experienced the thrill of 'walk-off hits in two consecutive games.' Before Kim Woong-bin, there were four such batters. However, even those great hitters failed to topple the same pitcher consecutively.

Looking at past records fully proves the rarity of the feat achieved by Kim Woong-bin. The first to reach the peak of 'walk-off hits in two consecutive games' was Moon Kyu-hyun of Lotte Giants on June 28 and June 29, 2016, who ended games on consecutive days in Samsung Lions games at Sajik Stadium, but the opposing pitchers were Ahn Ji-man and Shim Chang-min, respectively.

Next, on July 21 and July 22, 2018, Samsung's Park Han-i also hit a walk-off single and a double against Hanwha Eagles in Daegu on consecutive days, but the opposing pitchers were Kim Beom-soo and Jung Woo-ram, not the same player. In June 2020, catcher Ju Hyo-sang (then of Kiwoom, now of KIA Tigers) also left a unique record of consecutive walk-off hits against different teams and pitchers, playing against Lotte on the 18th and SK Wyverns (now SSG) on the 19th due to the schedule.

The most recent record before Kim Woong-bin, achieved by SSG's Oh Tae-gon on April 4 and April 6, 2025, in a KT Wiz game at Munhak Stadium (the game on the 5th was cancelled due to rain), also featured different opposing pitchers: Choi Dong-hwan and Park Young-hyun.

In contrast, Kim Woong-bin was different. After hitting a dramatic walk-off home run against Jo Byung-hyun in the game on the 18th, he faced Jo Byung-hyun again on the mound the very next day, the 19th, and delivered a crucial walk-off single with two outs and runners on first and second in a tied 5-5 situation.

Creating a decisive hit against the same pitcher on consecutive days, especially against a top-tier closer in the league, was possible only because of Kim Woong-bin's terrifying concentration and bold mentality. Seeing him finally connect with Jo Byung-hyun's incoming pitch (a 150 km/h fastball) to produce a hit sent Gocheok Dome into a frenzy of excitement.

Even with a 2-strike count that was unfavorable to the batter and no obvious mistake from the pitcher, Kim Woong-bin succeeded. After the game, he said, "I don't think something like this will ever happen again in my life," and added, "I'm glad the ball happened to land in the hitting zone, as if I got lucky."

The 'consecutive walk-offs against the same pitcher,' which had remained an impregnable fortress for 45 years, saw new history written at the end of Kim Woong-bin's bat, who created this legendary record.

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*This content was translated by AI.