'5⅓ innings, 10K' Jang Hyun-seok is crazy! After promotion to High-A Single, 2 games, 18 strikeouts, no walks march → Most strikeouts in a single game since entering the U.S.

*This content was translated by AI.

Jang Hyun-seok (22, Great Lakes Loons), a 'Korean super-specialty starting prospect' active in the High-A Single affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB), once again tied his own record for most strikeouts in a single game since entering the U.S., becoming a winning pitcher in two consecutive games after promotion.

On the 6th (Korean time), Jang Hyun-seok started against the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds affiliate) at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton, Ohio, USA, pitching 5⅓ innings, allowing five hits, no walks, recording ten strikeouts, and giving up two earned runs to lead his team to a 13-5 victory.

Jang Hyun-seok, who recorded ten strikeouts on this day, once again achieved his record for most strikeouts in a single game since entering the U.S., following his performance of five innings with ten strikeouts in a Single-A game on June 27. After making his first appearance following promotion to High-A Single on July 31, where he pitched six innings allowing three hits, no runs, and recording eight strikeouts for a Quality Start (QS), earning the title 'Pitcher of the Week in the Midwest League,' Jang Hyun-seok has now secured two consecutive wins after promotion with an overwhelming performance of 18 strikeouts in just two games at High-A Single.

Starting with a strikeout on a full count with one out in the first inning using a 95 mph (approximately 153 km/h) fastball, Jang Hyun-seok retired three batters in order. He also recorded two strikeouts in the second inning, facing only three batters. In the third inning, he even struck out all three batters on swings and misses to build momentum.

Jang Hyun-seok kept the fourth inning scoreless but appeared to escape a crisis by striking out two consecutive batters with swings and misses with one out and a runner on second base in the bottom of the fifth inning; however, he subsequently allowed consecutive sacrifice flies, giving up two runs. He was then replaced after allowing a double with one out in the sixth inning. Jang Hyun-seok threw 79 pitches that day, of which 54 were strikes.

A graduate of Masan Yongma High School, Jang Hyun-seok was considered the top prospect in high school baseball and was expected to be selected first overall in the 2024 KBO Draft but suddenly declared his intention to enter the U.S. His draft class included Hanwha Eagles' Hwang Jun-seo (21) and Doosan Bears' Kim Taek-yeon (21).

When Jang Hyun-seok signed with the Dodgers in August 2023 for a signing bonus of $900,000 (approximately 1.3 billion won), he attracted huge expectations under the evaluation of being 'the second Park Chan-ho.' Especially ahead of the 2025 season, he received high praise for ranking 21st among Dodgers prospects on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball.

However, in the 2025 season, his second year in the U.S., he was hampered by control issues. He recorded an ERA of 4.65 without a win in 13 Single-A games, showing a slight decline in expectations. Thanks to his unchanged velocity, he recorded 47 strikeouts over 35⅔ innings, but he issued 28 walks, making it difficult to secure runs.

Jang Hyun-seok was seen training and absorbing know-how with 'World Series MVP' Yoshinobu Yamamoto after the end of the 2025 season. Ultimately, this effort bore fruit. Jang Hyun-seok, who recorded an ERA of 3.98 from April to May in the 2026 season, laid the foundation for a comeback and was promoted to High-A Single on July 31 with the team's trust. Since then, he has demonstrated a completely changed image by going on a 'no-walk march' without allowing a single walk in two consecutive games.

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*This content was translated by AI.