Why did Kim Ho-ryeong run! The behind-the-scenes of the 'heart-wrenching third-base pickoff attempt,' the manager's thinking was different: "It wasn't a head-on play" [Gwangju]

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a play that made one wonder why he ran, but the manager's perspective was different. KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho (45) defended Kim Ho-ryeong's (34) pickoff attempt that became a turning point in the game the previous day (the 3rd).

Manager Lee Beom-ho opened his remarks ahead of the home game against the Lotte Giants at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 4th, part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, saying, "It was not a situation where a stolen base was possible, yet they deliberately gave a bunt sign."

The previous day, KIA seized a golden opportunity to turn the tide in the bottom of the 7th inning while trailing 2-5. Leadoff hitter Han Jun-su reached base with a hit to left-center field, and Han Jun-su then hit a double to left-center field, scoring one run. As a result, starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook was replaced, and Park Jeong-min took the mound.

However, during Park Beom-min's at-bat, Kim Ho-ryeong attempted a steal of third base and was thrown out by Park Jeong-min's pickoff throw and a quick tag by Son Ho-young. Subsequent batters failed to deliver, and KIA ultimately lost 3-8.

In response, manager Lee Beom-ho explained, "Our bullpen has not been strong lately. On the other hand, Lotte's Park Jeong-min, Kim Won-joong, and Choi Jun-yong were pitching well. If we could narrow the gap to just one run, we would reach our top-of-the-order batters in the 8th inning, allowing us to compete on equal footing."

He added, "Furthermore, Kim Jin-wook is a pitcher who throws effective changeups, so we judged that Park Beom-min would likely hit a ground ball if he swung early. We thought that if we could reduce the deficit by even one run, the game would become competitive in the 8th and 9th innings, and we believed Kim Ho-ryeong could easily steal a base."

However, Kim Ho-ryeong's start timing was slightly off, causing him to move too early, which allowed Park Jeong-min to catch the attempt quickly, resulting in an out. Manager Lee Beom-ho commented, "It seems the timing changed because the pitcher didn't throw on his usual timing and had to catch the ball one more time. I also discussed this with the base running coach."

He continued, "I don't think this was a head-on play. Rather, it was a play aimed at creating a probability to advance one more base. That's why I didn't scold him. I believe we should always be willing to challenge such plays to advance one more base in the future."

He expressed hope that players would continue to engage in aggressive base running. Manager Lee Beom-ho concluded, "It was disappointing that such a play occurred when we intended to send a bunt sign, and we discussed it thoroughly after the game. While we must gradually reduce such mistakes, if players become hesitant while base running, it will not help many players. Unless it is a head-on play, I want them to be a bit more aggressive."

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*This content was translated by AI.