"Against Korea's best closer..." In the final moment of the bottom of the 9th inning → Why did the manager spare no praise? [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

It is truly difficult to maintain batting rhythm by appearing as a pinch hitter in every game. Nevertheless, Doosan Bears has a player who quietly continues to do just that. He is Kim In-tae (32), who joined Doosan in 2013 and has remained a one-club man, continuously earning the love of fans.

Doosan will host a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against KT Wiz at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 17th.

Doosan trailed throughout the game the previous day (16th) and lost 2-6. However, they were not without opportunities.

Even with a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, KT brought in "closer" Park Young-hyun to the mound. It was not a save situation, but the bench's calculation was to firmly close out the game and secure a victory.

Against such Park Young-hyun, leadoff batter Ryu Seung-min drew a walk. Then, when No. 8 batter Lee Yu-chan came to the plate, pinch hitter Kim In-tae stepped into the batter's box.

Park Young-hyun's first pitch, a 149km fastball, was thrown high and came in like a cannonball. Kim In-tae timed it perfectly and made solid contact, sending the ball soaring straight toward the right-field foul pole. A home run ball. However, it unfortunately went just outside the pole, resulting in a foul. A foul home run.

Thereafter, Kim In-tae attempted to hit the fourth pitch with a 1-2 count but was retired on a ground ball to the first baseman for a double play. Ultimately, Doosan's follow-up batter Jo Su-hyeong hit a three-run home run over the fence, but Cameron was called out on strikes, and the team lost.

How did the manager view Kim In-tae's foul home run? Kim Won-hyung, Doosan's manager, before the game on the 17th, commented on the scene: "Even before this, if the timing had been just a bit better during practice earlier, we could have shaken up the opposing pitcher," expressing his regret that the home run did not materialize.

He continued, "In fact, it's not common to appear as a pinch hitter that often in a game. Yet, even though it was just a foul, showing such timing against Korea's best closer..." and added, "It seems he is continuing to prepare well," sparing no praise.

Meanwhile, Doosan will start with Asian quota Japanese pitcher Takada Takuto. KT's starting pitcher is Sauer. The batting order is composed as follows: Jo Su-hyeong (center fielder), Cameron (designated hitter), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Oh Myung-jin (first baseman), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Ryu Seung-min (right fielder), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), and Lee Yu-chan (second baseman).

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*This content was translated by AI.