'2.2 billion won' Home Run Champion is showing no ordinary signs: "No complicated thoughts..." Finally hitting properly in the second half after transfer, fans' expectations grow even higher

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers power hitter Kim Jae-hwan (38), a former Home Run Champion, is showing no ordinary form as the second half of the season begins.

On the 1st, SSG secured a decisive 10-2 victory over Kiwoom Heroes in an away regular-season game at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Kim Jae-hwan swung his bat with one home run included. Starting as the fifth designated hitter, Kim Jae-hwan delivered a stellar performance with 4 at-bats, 2 hits (1 home run), 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 1 walk, leading his team to victory.

Kim Jae-hwan was retired on a ground ball to second base in the 2nd inning. He drew a walk in the 4th inning. Then, in the 5th, Kim Jae-hwan unleashed a massive hit. With one out and runners on first and second, he faced the second pitcher, Jung Hyun-woo, who had just entered the game. After falling behind 0-1 in the count, he attacked the second pitch with a fastball, launching a three-run home run over the left-center field wall. This was Kim Jae-hwan's 16th home run of the season. He was retired on a ground ball to shortstop in the 6th inning but added a hit to right field in the 8th, completing a multi-hit game with three times on base.

Kim Jae-hwan is from Incheon, having graduated from Yeongrang Elementary School, Sang-Incheon Middle School, and Incheon High School. He joined Doosan Bears as the fourth overall pick in the second round of the 2008 draft and played for the team for a remarkable 18 seasons up to this year. Last December, he announced a surprise transfer. He left Doosan after signing a two-year contract worth 2.2 billion won (600 million won signing bonus, 1 billion won annual salary, and 600 million won in options) with SSG.

At the time, SSG stated, "For the 2025 season, we analyzed that our team's OPS ranked 8th league-wide and slugging percentage ranked 7th, identifying the strengthening of offensive power as a core task. We comprehensively reviewed Kim Jae-hwan's recent performance, detailed metrics, injury history, and adaptability." They added, "Kim Jae-hwan has recorded an OPS of 0.783 (on-base percentage 0.356, slugging percentage 0.427) and 52 home runs over the past three years, still possessing top-tier power in the league. In particular, at Incheon SSG Landers Field during the same period, he posted an OPS of 0.802 (on-base percentage 0.379, slugging percentage 0.423), so if he can leverage the home-field advantage, there is high expectation for a rebound beyond his current level."

They further emphasized, "Additionally, based on tracking data from the 2025 season, his hard-hit rate was 39.3% and barrel (ideal hit) rate was 10.5%, ranking second within the club behind Choi Jeong and foreign hitters. He is expected to play a key role in power production in the heart of the lineup." They concluded, "Based on this, we carefully coordinated the detailed contract terms and the team's direction for infielder operations. Kim Jae-hwan also expressed hope for a comeback in the new environment of Incheon, finalizing the acquisition. We expect him to contribute to strengthening OPS-centered offensive baseball by passing on his sense of responsibility as a veteran and his expertise in the hitting department to younger players. His performance will be evaluated within the same competitive system as existing players."

Since transferring to SSG, Kim Jae-hwan has consistently received playing opportunities. In 89 games played, he is recording a batting average of 0.227 (304 at-bats, 69 hits), 16 home runs, 51 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 1 stolen base (1 caught stealing), 49 walks, 102 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.401, an on-base percentage of 0.339, an OPS (on-base + slugging) of 0.740, a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.270, and a pinch-hit batting average of 0.250.

Most importantly, he is showing a completely revitalized form in the second half compared to the first half. His first-half stats were over 74 games: a batting average of 0.206 (247 at-bats, 51 hits), 13 home runs, and 41 RBIs. However, in the second half, over 15 games, he has posted a batting average of 0.316 (57 at-bats, 18 hits), 3 home runs, and 10 RBIs.

After the game on this day, Kim Jae-hwan shared his thoughts: "I am happy that my home run and RBI contributed to the team's victory. As a central hitter, I approached the plate with the responsibility of always bringing in runners in clutch situations, and I am satisfied with the positive outcome."

He continued, "I focused on matching timing with the pitcher without any complicated thoughts. Confidently swinging my bat at the right time led to solid contact and home runs. At the beginning of the game, Ji Young-ki's lead-off home run was the biggest driving force behind the lineup explosion. Thanks to that, the dugout atmosphere heated up immediately, allowing subsequent hitters to focus on the plate with psychological comfort, creating positive synergy."

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*This content was translated by AI.