'KIA ousting' is not the end → 'Meaningful' manager says, "We must face a very big dilemma..." KBO's 45-year history sees the protagonist once again face a moment of decision

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers, which made the bold decision to become the first team to release a player under the Asia quota, is expected to enter another period of deliberation. Of course, it is a pleasant dilemma. The protagonist is replacement foreign hitter Adellin Rodriguez (35), who has been dominating with three consecutive home runs in the last three games. The manager left a meaningful message, saying, "I think we will soon reach a point where we must face a deep dilemma."

On the 26th, Rodriguez started at fourth hitter and first baseman in the Kiwoom Heroes' away game at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season. He contributed to the team's 5-2 victory with one hit in four at-bats, including one home run, one RBI, and one run scored.

Rodriguez's home run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when KIA was leading 1-0. With one out and no runners on base, Rodriguez targeted a high-zone slider (130 km/h) thrown by Kiwoom's second pitcher, Kim Sung-jin, and hit a solo shot that cleared the left-field fence. The distance was 120 meters.

This home run was Rodriguez's eighth of the season. It also marked the moment he hit three consecutive home runs, following his performances against SSG Landers on the 23rd and 24th.

Rodriguez is a foreign hitter signed by KIA on the 4th as a replacement for Harold Castro, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. His contract is for six weeks, with an annual salary of $50,000 (approximately 72 million won).

Since signing, he has appeared in 17 games, posting a batting average of 0.258 (16 hits in 62 at-bats), 8 home runs, 20 RBIs, 12 runs scored, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.661, an on-base percentage of 0.309, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.970, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.375.

Rodriguez made a strong impression from his debut after connecting with the Korean stage. On the 5th, he started as the fifth hitter and first baseman against Gwangju Hanwha, hitting a home run in his first at-bat. In the bottom of the first inning with two outs and runners on first and third, he faced Hanwha's starting pitcher Kang Geon-woo and launched a three-run shot that soared over the center-field fence. It was a powerful debut.

That was only the beginning. In the following game on the 6th, he hit multiple home runs, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs, and two runs scored, becoming the first player to convert all three of his KBO League debut hits into home runs. However, that was not the end. On the 8th, against Lotte, he hit another home run, completing his debut with four hits, all of which were home runs.

This was a historic first in the 45th-year history of the KBO League. Before Rodriguez, Tracy Sanders (Haitai) in 1999, Tom Quinnlan (Hyundai) in 2000, Manny Martinez (Samsung) in 2001, and Lee Yul-ye (SSG) in 2025 had all connected three consecutive hits into home runs after their debuts, but no one had ever recorded four consecutive hits as home runs.

After going quiet for three games, Rodriguez hit a home run against Doosan on the 13th. After another six-game stretch without a home run, he has now hit three consecutive home runs in his last three games. Most importantly, Rodriguez is delivering high-value performances by hitting home runs at crucial moments.

KIA manager Lee Beom-ho, ahead of the 26th game against Kiwoom, praised Rodriguez, saying, "The evaluations have all been positive. He is focusing at important timing, and it seems he is definitely hitting well. Other teams are also trying to counter him, so we need to keep discussing and improving in those areas. He is definitely a player with the ability to hit the ball far. If he can just hit strikes, he will be a very scary opponent."

The manager continued, "If he can overcome those aspects well, I think we will soon reach a point where we must face a very big dilemma regarding a formal contract with Rodriguez." As the six-week period draws closer, what bold decision will the KIA organization make once again?

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*This content was translated by AI.