*This content was translated by AI.
With the lingering excitement of the final 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO All-Star Game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, the KBO League begins its second-half race on the 16th.
Just as intense is the competition for standings, a series of historic milestones awaits fans' attention. The moments of "firsts" are expected to define the second half: Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) reaching 2,500 combined Korean and American league strikeouts, Kim Jin-seong (41, LG Twins) setting the all-time holds record, and Choi Hyung-woo (43, Samsung Lions) achieving 2,700 hits.
Ryu Hyun-jin needs just one more strikeout to reach 2,500 combined Korean and American league strikeouts. After recording 8 wins, 2 losses, a 2.67 ERA, and 70 strikeouts in 15 first-half games, Ryu has accumulated 2,499 combined strikeouts. If he adds just one strikeout in his second-half debut, he will become the first Korean pitcher to reach 2,500 combined strikeouts.
LG's Kim Jin-seong is challenging to break his personal record for most career holds. Adding 16 holds in the first half, Kim has recorded a total of 176 career holds. He is now just one hold away from the KBO all-time record of 177 holds held by Ahn Ji-man (formerly of Samsung). If he adds one hold in the second half, he will tie the record; adding two will secure sole possession of first place.
Veteran batters' march toward records also draws attention. Choi Hyung-woo of Samsung, the all-time hits leader in the KBO who continues to perform steadily despite being past 40, added 95 hits in the first half for a career total of 2,681 hits. If he adds just 19 more hits in the second half, he will set a new record of 2,700 hits that no one has ever reached.
KBO all-time record holder for most games played, Kang Min-ho (41, Samsung), made his historic 2,500th game appearance against Doosan on April 1. He has appeared in 2,556 games through the first half. With 59 games remaining for Samsung, if Kang plays in 44 of those games, he will achieve the unprecedented milestone of appearing in 2,600 career games.
Choi Jeong (39, SSG Landers), the all-time home run leader in the KBO, is aiming for multiple "firsts" simultaneously. Having surpassed the league's first 500 home runs and 1,500 runs scored last year, Choi added 19 home runs and 44 runs in the first half this year. He has 537 career home runs, needing 13 more to reach 550, and 1,600 runs scored, needing 41 more.
Hitting just one more home run would also achieve 20 home runs for 11 consecutive seasons. He needs 86 total bases to reach a career 4,600 total bases and 9 walks to reach 1,500 four-base hits.
"Batting machine" Kim Hyun-soo (38, KT Wiz) is on the verge of achieving 17 consecutive seasons with 100 hits for the first time in history. Excluding his overseas stints in 2016 and 2017, Kim has recorded over 100 hits every year since 2008. He currently holds the record for 16 consecutive seasons with 100 hits alongside Yang Joon-hyuk and Park Han-i (formerly of Samsung).
After hitting 98 hits in the first half, Kim Hyun-soo needs just two more hits to achieve the historic milestone of 17 consecutive seasons with 100 hits. With a career total of 3,982 total bases, he is only 18 total bases away from becoming the fourth player in history to reach 4,000 total bases.
"Ace pitcher" Yang Hyeon-jong (38, KIA Tigers) writes another chapter in strikeout history. Having recorded 2,234 career strikeouts through the first half, he needs 66 more to reach the historic milestone of 2,300 strikeouts. If he adds 51 more strikeouts, he will extend his record for consecutive seasons with triple-digit strikeouts to 12 seasons.
He also challenges historic milestones in innings pitched. Having pitched 78⅓ innings in the first half, if Yang Hyeon-jong pitches an additional 21⅔ innings, he will tie the all-time record of 13 consecutive seasons with over 100 innings (1994–2006) held by Song Jin-woo (formerly of Hanwha).
Right-handed pitcher Yu Kyu-min (41, KT), who has appeared in 886 career games, is challenging to become the third pitcher in history to appear in 900 games. If he plays in 14 more games in the second half, he will achieve the historic milestone of appearing in 900 games as the third pitcher after Ryu Taek-hyun (formerly of LG) and Jung Woo-ram (formerly of Hanwha).
The eternal Jamsil idol Jeong Soobin (36, Doosan Bears) chases the all-time record of 100 triples held by Jeon Jun-ho (formerly of Heroes), currently sitting at 95 career triples. Adding five more would tie the record; adding six would secure sole possession of first place.
Team records also await. If Samsung adds 55 home runs and 207 hits in the second half, they will become the first team in the league to reach a career total of 5,600 home runs and 53,000 hits. If KIA adds 175 strikeouts, they will become the first team to reach a career total of 36,000 strikeouts.
In the second half where standings are expected to fluctuate, every single number accumulated in each game is projected to be another key viewing point that cannot be missed.
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*This content was translated by AI.
