'First bench-clearing incident of the season' explodes! Why? Kiwoom-Doosan standoff: 'Lim Byung-wook requested time → immediately hit by 145 km/h fastball from Choi Min-seok, emotions erupted' [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The first bench-clearing incident of the season in the KBO League has occurred.

A 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season matchup between Doosan Bears and Kiwoom Heroes was held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 6th. This was the second game of a three-game weekend series.

With Doosan leading 6-1 at the time, Kiwoom was batting in the bottom of the 6th inning. Leadoff batter Lim Byung-wook stepped into the batter's box. Doosan's starting pitcher Choi Min-seok remained on the mound.

The first pitch was a strike. Then, just as Choi was about to deliver his second pitch, Lim Byung-wook called for time and took a brief pause.

After completing his batting preparation, Lim Byung-wook was struck directly on the buttocks by Choi Min-seok's second fastball (145 km/h). It was a hit-by-pitch.

At that moment, Lim Byung-wook, having been hit by the ball, could not contain his emotions and walked toward the mound. Simultaneously, players from both Doosan and Kiwoom rushed out of their dugouts, triggering a bench-clearing incident.

It was a situation that could have been easily misunderstood. A hit-by-pitch occurred immediately after Lim had requested time once.

However, Choi Min-seok immediately removed his cap and expressed his apology right after throwing the hit-by-pitch.

Fortunately, the incident did not escalate further. Doosan's catcher Yang Eui-ji physically blocked Lim Byung-wook from approaching the mound. Coaches from both teams then came out, and after exchanging words, each team returned to their respective dugouts.

Choi Min-seok later removed his cap again to convey his apology to Lim Byung-wook, who accepted the apology, bringing the bench-clearing incident to a close.

Meanwhile, at the end of the bottom of the 6th inning, Doosan was leading Kiwoom 6-1.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original