'A 20-year-old pitcher made it' — From a string of losses to the first Quality Start, paving the way to end the losing streak [Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

Rookie Kim Min-jun (20, SSG Landers) laid the foundation for ending the team's long losing streak.

On the 7th, Kim Min-jun started against Doosan Bears at Seoul Songpa-gu Jamsil Baseball Stadium in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game, throwing 83 pitches over six innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and recording six strikeouts in a scoreless performance.

This marked his first Quality Start (six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs allowed) since his debut and was a crucial outing that snapped the team's nine-game losing streak.

Manager Lee Sung-yong said before the game, "I always say this: just throw your own pitches well. He's young, yet he's performing as well as our foreign starters in the rotation. I hope he can pitch without burden and focus on his own delivery. All players are feeling pressure now, but everyone faces it. The key is how they overcome that. I expect him to throw his pitches well today."

He responded perfectly to the manager's trust. Kim Min-jun delivered his best performance since debut. In the bottom of the first inning with one out, he allowed a single by Son Ah-seop on a ground ball to left field but quickly retired Park Jun-soon with a high fastball strikeout and turned Yang Eui-ji into a third baseman's grounder, starting the game on a positive note.

After retiring the side in order in the second inning, Kim Min-jun struck out Kang Seung-ho and Jeong Soobin with consecutive changeups in the third. Even after issuing a walk to Kim Min-seok, he induced a ground ball to the shortstop from Son Ah-seop to end the frame.

While delivering what seemed like a perfect game, Kim Min-jun retired Park Jun-soon on a catcher's foul fly in the fourth but then allowed a large hit to Yang Eui-ji toward center field. The ball traveled far, but center fielder Choi Ji-hoon chased it quickly and deflected it off the wall. Kim Min-jun removed his cap and bowed deeply in acknowledgment. Later, he gave up a hit to Ahn Jae-seok, making the previous situation feel even more tense. He then retired Park Chan-ho on a fly ball to center field.

In the top of the fifth with one out, Kim Sung-wook and Choi Jung followed with consecutive hits, setting the table for Guillermo Heredia's two-run double. With a two-run lead, Kim Min-jun took the mound again but allowed a double to Jeong Soobin with two outs. A ground ball hit by Kim Min-seok headed quickly toward first base, but Oh Tae-gon handled the difficult play on one bounce to end the inning.

Kim Min-jun appeared again in the sixth, striking out Son Ah-seop with a high fastball and Park Jun-soon with an outside fastball swing-and-miss strikeout. After allowing a hit to Yang Eui-ji, the pitching coach visited the mound. His pitch count had reached 80. However, the decision was made to trust Kim Min-jun. Hong Dae-in cleanly fielded Ahn Jae-seok's ground ball. After recording his first Quality Start of his career, Kim Min-jun handed the ball over to Lee Run, a senior from 'Daegu', entering the seventh inning while carrying the win condition before exiting.

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*This content was translated by AI.