'Transfer for 2.2 billion won → 17 home runs' evaluations still divided, Kim Jae-hwan: "Today isn't the end of my life"

*This content was translated by AI.

The gaze toward Kim Jae-hwan (38, SSG Landers), who changed uniforms for up to 2.2 billion won over two years, remains divided. Nevertheless, Kim Jae-hwan quietly focuses only on what he can do.

On the 4th, Kim Jae-hwan started as the designated hitter in the third spot at the Incheon SSG Landers Field home game against LG Twins in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. He went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, one walk, one strikeout, four RBIs, and one run scored, leading his team to a 10-8 victory.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the team holding a narrow 3-2 lead and two outs with runners on first and second base, Kim Jae-hwan lifted Jin Su's forkball over the right-field fence for a three-run home run. It was his 17th home run of the season.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, after SSG had taken a seven-point lead in the seventh but allowed six runs to LG in the top of the eighth, trailing by one run, Kim Jae-hwan hit a go-ahead RBI single off Woo-chan Lee's low slider with two outs and runners on first and third base.

After the game, when meeting reporters, Kim Jae-hwan expressed more regret over not being able to help his youngest pitcher secure a win than joy from his home run. He said, "I was more troubled that I didn't hit a home run in my previous at-bat. My young teammate (Kim) Min-jun has been pitching so well, and I really wanted to secure the win for him. If I had done that, we could have met the victory conditions, but that part feels a bit disappointing."

SSG has struggled since the 2020s with a record of 35 wins, 67 losses, and 3 draws. This victory is even more meaningful as it overcame the trauma from their previous matchup against LG, where they were in an overwhelming deficit this season with one win and eight losses.

Kim Jae-hwan said, "Actually, since this is my first year with SSG, I didn't think much about it, but many people around me have talked about it. The players likely had a stronger desire to perform better and win. That's why today's victory feels even more significant."

In the early part of the season, when the team was holding onto a top-tier position, Kim Jae-hwan experienced severe slumps. Coincidentally, while the team later fell into a downward spiral, Kim Jae-hwan came alive. His batting average remains at just 0.230 (71 hits in 309 at-bats), but he has recorded 17 home runs and 56 RBIs. His home run total ranks second on the team behind Choi Jeong (20 home runs), while his RBI total is third. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) stands at 0.757, the highest among outfielders except for Guillermo Heredia (0.798) and Kim Sung-wook (0.782), both of whom are out due to injury. With no obvious replacements available, his role is critical. In scoring position, he has raised his batting average to 0.283, demonstrating strong focus.

Nevertheless, perhaps because expectations remain high, critical public opinion persists. Kim Jae-hwan admitted, "Honestly, I'm not feeling good about it," but added, "Still, today isn't the end of my life, and the Landers' season isn't over either. Since next year will come, I've always thought deeply inside myself to focus more on future situations and do better."

With Choi Jeong out for the season and the team facing difficult odds for playoff contention, a stabilizing presence is needed. In this situation, Kim Jae-hwan has been tasked with carrying heavy responsibility as he plays out the remainder of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.