'Error replaced by accountability': 19-year-old shortstop, comforted by 36-year-old 'captain,' finally bursts into tears

*This content was translated by AI.

The wall of professionalism was far too cold and cruel for a 19-year-old high school graduate rookie shortstop. Yet, the arms of the veteran captain who embraced that moment of pain were warm. This is the story of KT Wiz shortstop Lee Kang-min (19).

On the 30th, Lee Kang-min started as the cleanup hitter and shortstop in the away game against the Kiwoom Heroes at the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome. This marked his first start since the the 27th game against the Jamsil Doosan Bears, three days later.

Today will likely be recorded as an unforgettable day in Lee Kang-min's professional career. The beginning of adversity came in the bottom of the 3rd inning when the team was leading 5-1. The atmosphere was not bad at all until Lee Kang-min cleanly fielded a ground ball by Kiwoom's leadoff hitter Oh Seon-jin.

However, things began to unravel from Seo Geon-chang's at-bat. Lee Kang-min fielded a deep hit and threw to first base, but the throw was slightly late, resulting in an infield hit. From this point on, Lee Kang-min was shaken and allowed another infield hit by Lee Hyung-jong that slipped through the 3-6 gap. As the defense lost its stability, the KT mound also began to shake. Hiu-ra's RBI double and two bases-loaded walks followed in succession, leading to three runs in an instant. The butterfly effect that started with Lee Kang-min's defensive instability returned as a boomerang of heavy scoring.

Eventually, trouble struck in the bottom of the 4th inning. After one out, Seo Geon-chang's ground ball rolled toward the shortstop again. Lee Kang-min fielded the ball and threw to first base, but the ball veered off, and first baseman Kim Hyun-soo failed to make the catch. The official record was a shortstop throwing error. The bench's patience had reached its limit. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol immediately removed Lee Kang-min and substituted infielder Kwon Dong-jin (28). This was, in effect, an accountability substitution that occurred mid-inning.

Lee Kang-min's expression had turned cold as he returned to the dugout. The guilt of handing over the momentum due to his own mistake, and the self-blame for not overcoming the pressure of the first division stage, seemed to weigh heavily on the shoulders of the 19th-year-old youth.

In this situation, 'captain' Jang Sung-woo approached, put an arm around him, and offered comfort. Lee Kang-min then finally burst into tears. Jang Sung-woo, seeing the youngest player cry, even offered sincere advice.

A 19-year-old youth who shed tears on the cold battlefield of the first division stage. However, thanks to the support of a reliable senior, his growth is now truly beginning.

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*This content was translated by AI.