Where did all the closers go? With the exception of three teams, everyone has been replaced—will the "old guards" return?

*This content was translated by AI.

Where have all the guardian deities who firmly protected the back door of the mound gone?

In the 2026 KBO League season, now halfway through, it is striking how many teams have seen a major turnover in their closers. Only three teams have their top save pitchers from last season still leading the league this year.

The primary reason for the changes is injury. LG Twins's You Young-chan, who recorded 21 saves last season, underwent elbow surgery and was out for the season. LG boldly promoted starting pitcher Son Ju-young to the closer role. Although some fans protested with truck demonstrations, Son Ju-young has perfectly filled the void left by You Young-chan, recording 1 win, 13 saves, and an ERA of 1.04 in 15 games.

Doosan Bears's Kim Taek-yeon also left due to a shoulder injury in late April and did not return to the first division until the 10th, a month and a half later. In the meantime, Lee Young-ha, after switching roles, went undefeated and recorded 9 saves. Doosan plans to keep Lee Young-ha as the closer for the time being and utilize Kim Taek-yeon as a middle reliever.

Even more painful is the case of teams that had to replace their closers due to poor performance. Kim Seo-hyun of Hanwha Eagles, who recorded 33 saves last season, disappeared from the first division after May 7 due to severe control issues. His season record stands at 1 win, 2 losses, 1 save, and an ERA of 12.38. In 12 games, he pitched 8 innings, issuing 15 walks and hitting 4 batters. That spot was first filled by foreign pitcher Cushing, and recently by Lee Min-woo.

Jung Hae-young of KIA Tigers and Kim Won-jung of Lotte Giants, who had guarded the team's mound back door for several years, were moved to middle relief due to poor starts this season. Jung Hae-young has recorded 2 saves and 4 holds, while Kim Won-jung has 2 saves and 7 holds. In their places, Sung Young-tak (KIA) and Choi Jun-yong (Lotte) have taken over the closer duties. NC Dinos's Ryu Jin-wook also has not found his normal form, so Jeon Sa-min has been appearing more frequently as the closer recently.

Kiwoom Heroes present a somewhat unique case. After last season's closer Ju Seung-woo enlisted in the military, Asian quota pitcher Yuto took over the role. Yuto has recorded 11 saves, tying for fourth place in the category, and has been pitching steadily.

Only three teams have not changed their closers: KT Wiz, SSG Landers, and Samsung Lions. KT's Park Young-hyun, who led the league in saves last season, continues to demonstrate his power and is currently tied for first place this year with 15 saves. Jo Byung-hyun, despite showing some instability, continues to shoulder the responsibility of SSG's back door. Kim Jae-yoon, who took over the closer role due to an injury to Lee Ho-seong, who was originally a closer candidate, has also reached a tie for first place in saves (15), showcasing the experience of a veteran.

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop emphasized, when selecting Son Ju-young as You Young-chan's replacement in mid-last month, "Having a problem with the closer is a very significant issue. All teams that built dynasties in history had reliable save pitchers."

Moreover, in the recent KBO League where comeback victories are common, the importance of a reliable closer has become greater than ever. It remains to be seen whether each team will maintain their current closers for the remainder of the season or reinstate the "old guards," making it another key point of interest.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.