The hitting machine stands on the brink of writing new KBO history! KT's Kim Hyun-soo, just three hits away from becoming the first ever to record 100 hits in 17 consecutive seasons — '-3'

*This content was translated by AI.

KBO League's representative hitting machine Kim Hyun-soo (38, KT Wiz) is just three hits away from achieving the unprecedented feat of 17 consecutive seasons with 100 or more hits.

Kim graduated from Ssangmun Elementary, Sinil Middle, and Sinil High schools before joining the Doosan Bears as a developmental player in 2006, marking his 21st professional season. In his third year, 2008, he batted .357 (168 hits in 470 at-bats) to win the batting title and earned the nickname "hitting machine." He recorded his first career hit on April 8, 2007, against Samsung in a citizen game, finishing that season with 87 hits in 99 games. From the following year onward, Kim began accumulating hits steadily, posting 168 hits in the 2008 season and 172 hits in the 2009 season, ranking first in hits for two consecutive years.

Excluding his overseas stint (2016–2017), Kim has recorded 100 or more hits every season since 2008. In his first season back in the KBO League in 2018, he hit .362 with 164 hits to lead the league in batting average. In 2020, he set a personal single-season record with 181 hits. He also achieved 150 or more hits for four consecutive seasons from 2015 through 2020.

Last year, Kim became only the fourth player in history to reach 2,500 career hits, following Son A-seop, Choi Hyung-woo, and Park Yong-taek. As of July 6, he has accumulated a total of 2,628 career hits. Currently ranked third all-time in KBO League hits, Kim is engaged in fierce competition with the top two: Choi Hyung-woo (Samsung, 2,676 hits) and Son A-seop (Doosan, 2,651 hits).

Starting as the cleanup hitter and first baseman the previous day (the 7th), Kim went 1-for-4 with one run scored. With just three more hits, he will surpass the record of 16 consecutive seasons with 100 or more hits held jointly by Yang Jun-hyuk and Park Han-i (both former Samsung players) and become the first ever to achieve 17 consecutive seasons with 100 or more hits in KBO history.

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*This content was translated by AI.