'P-P-P-P-P' Crisis Pitcher Returns: "Trust Me and Throw" – A Best Friend's Words Saved Him, After 3 Months of Wandering, the 'Native Ace' Makes His Comeback

*This content was translated by AI.

With Kim Kwang-hyun absent, he began the season as the native ace. After starting with five consecutive wins and raising expectations, he later suffered severe slumps. While the starting rotation staged a remarkable turnaround, Kim Geon-woo (24, SSG Landers) could not be an exception. His close friend and battery mate Jo Hyung-woo (24) proved to be a steadfast ally.

On the 25th, Kim Geon-woo started against the NC Dinos in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League at Incheon SSG Landers Field. Over five innings, he allowed five hits, three walks, and recorded four strikeouts while remaining scoreless.

The lineup generated early offense, and with an 8-0 lead, Kim Geon-woo left the mound with victory in sight. The team ultimately won 10-4, securing his seventh win (with seven losses) of the season.

He started the season with five consecutive wins and maintained an ERA in the low 3s, but as the team fell into a prolonged losing streak, Kim Geon-woo lost his composure and collapsed.

His June record was one win and four losses with an ERA of 9.82. He then endured a five-game losing streak through July. In each game, he allowed a significant number of runs, making victory seem unlikely.

As the team plummeted to ninth place and hope seemed lost, the starting rotation miraculously revived. Led by newcomer Pedro Avila, rookies Kim Min-jun and Thomas Hatch each recorded three consecutive quality starts (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs), earning wins. Then it was Kim Geon-woo's turn.

It was not smooth sailing. He allowed a hit to leadoff batter Kim Ju-won in the first inning, then gave up another hit to Park Min-woo with one out. After striking out Blaine Crim, he walked Park Geon-woo. With the bases loaded and two outs, he threw a fastball that grazed the outer edge of the strike zone against Kim Hui-jip, inducing an outfield fly to right field and escaping the danger.

In the second inning, he again allowed a walk to the leadoff batter but struck out Han Jae-hwan and Cheon Jae-hwan in succession. With two outs and runners on first and second, he calmly induced an infield grounder from Kwon Hee-dong to end the inning.

Although his start was shaky—he threw as many as 45 pitches through the second inning—he soon found stability. After Sang-hyun An hit a three-run home run in the second, giving him some breathing room, Kim Geon-woo relied on support from the lineup to securely hold off opponents in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.

This was his first scoreless outing since April 24 against KT Wiz, when he pitched seven scoreless innings. It marked a span of 14 games and three months. The performance also extended the team's consecutive home-starting wins to four games.

After the game, manager Lee Sung-yong said, "Starting pitcher Kim Geon-woo demonstrated strong focus in every critical situation and effectively suppressed the opposing lineup." He added, "Having overcome his recent slump with a scoreless pitching performance, I hope he regains confidence from today's game and grows to the next level."

Kim Geon-woo also smiled after a long time. "There were still dangerous moments in today's game, but I'm happy that our team could win," he said. "I feel fortunate that I could contribute to the victory. My teammates also scored many runs, which allowed me to become the winning pitcher."

Overcoming early-game danger proved decisive. Kim Geon-woo stated, "Since June, I've had many games where things weren't going well. I felt frustrated myself. That's why I only thought about preparing even better." He continued, "(Jo) Hyung-woo, who got in sync with me, managed the game well. Today, during a critical moment, he encouraged me by saying, 'The ball feels good, so trust yourself and throw.' Thanks to that, I was able to get through the crisis."

As close teammates, they have always stuck together, supporting each other. Kim Geon-woo said, "We're usually together, so we talk more often." He added, "We discuss baseball-related topics frequently and share opinions. This allows us to try various strategies during games. I'm grateful to Hyung-woo for his hard work today."

With just three more wins, he could achieve double-digit victories for the first time in his career. Kim Geon-woo remarked, "Recording wins is only possible with help from position players and relief pitchers. That's why I'll simply do my part." He pledged, "I want to pitch many innings. If I perform well, the team will win. I aim to reach double-digit wins and meet the qualified innings requirement so that our team can continue winning."

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*This content was translated by AI.