'KIA, Samsung, Lotte: 3 each → Doosan, Kiwoom: 1 each → LG, Hanwha, SSG, NC, KT: 0' Final list of 11 successful candidates for the Army Baseball Team announced

*This content was translated by AI.

Eleven KBO League players, including KIA Tigers' key reliever Jung Hae-young and Lotte Giants' 'Asian Games national team representative' Choi Jun-yong, have been officially accepted into the Army Baseball Team (Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps).

The Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps confirmed the successful candidates for the Army Baseball Team on the 6th and subsequently notified each player individually. A total of 11 players currently active in the KBO League have been accepted into the Lee Beon-e (SVP) baseball team.

They will enlist on December 7 after concluding this season and are scheduled to serve until June 2028.

By club, KIA, Lotte, and Samsung Lions each produced the most successful candidates with three players apiece. Doosan Bears and Kiwoom Heroes also each had one player accepted.

In contrast, five clubs—LG Twins, Hanwha Eagles, SSG Landers, NC Dinos, and KT Wiz—failed to produce any successful candidates for the Koo Dan-eun (SVP) baseball team.

One of the most notable names is Jung Hae-young, who served as a closer for KIA. Holding the record for the youngest pitcher in KBO League history to reach 150 career saves, Jung appeared in 37 games this season with a record of 2 wins, 1 loss, 2 saves, and 8 holds, posting an ERA of 6.03. Over a total of 34⅓ innings, he allowed 43 hits (including 5 home runs), issued 12 walks, recorded 27 strikeouts, surrendered 28 runs (23 earned), blew one save opportunity, and posted a WHIP of 1.60 and a batting average against of 0.303.

Additionally, KIA right-handed pitcher Han Jae-seung and infielder Yoon Do-hyeon-i (SVP) were named to the Army Baseball Team candidate list. Han was one of the key players acquired when KIA and NC Dinos executed a massive 3-for-3 trade in late July last year. At that time, KIA sent outfielder Choi Won-jun, Lee Woo-seong, and infielder Hong Jong-pyo to NC in exchange for pitchers Kim Si-hoon and Han Jae-seung, along with infielder Jung Hyun-chang from NC. This season, Han appeared in 42 games with a record of 1 win, no losses, 1 hold, an ERA of 4.28, allowed 33 hits (including 5 home runs), issued 22 walks, recorded 26 strikeouts over 40 innings, surrendered 20 runs (19 earned), posted a WHIP of 1.38, and held opponents to a batting average against of 0.223.

At Lotte, pitchers Lee Min-seok and infielder Lee Ho-jun received notification of their acceptance into the Army Baseball Team alongside Choi Jun-yong, who was selected for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games representative team.

Notably, Choi Jun-yong has appeared in 44 games this season with a record of 4 wins, 3 losses, 14 saves, and 6 holds, posting an ERA of 3.60. Over 45 innings, he allowed 43 hits (including 5 home runs), issued 21 walks, recorded 46 strikeouts, surrendered 21 runs (18 earned), blew six save opportunities, posted a WHIP of 1.42, and held opponents to a batting average against of 0.254. Choi Jun-yong is the only player among the Lee Beon (SVP) baseball team candidates to be named to the Asian Games representative team. If the Korean national baseball team for the Asian Games wins the gold medal, his enlistment in the Choi Jun-yong-ui (SVP) baseball team will be automatically cancelled. He is expected to continue playing for Lotte instead of joining the Gyeong U (SVP) baseball team.

Additionally, at Samsung, left-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun and outfielder Ham Su-ho, along with infielder Sim Jae-hoon, each celebrated their acceptance into the Army Baseball Team. Lee Seung-hyun appeared in 10 games this season without a win, recording two losses and an ERA of 8.85.

Furthermore, pitcher Choi Ji-kang was included on the Doosan candidate list, and outfielder Won Sung-jun was included on the Kiwoom candidate list. Choi Ji-kang appeared in 16 games this season without a win or loss, posting an ERA of 9.45. Won Sung-jun joined Kiwoom as a developmental player in 2024 and signed a formal contract that same year. This season, he played in eight games, recording a batting average of 0.200 (4 hits in 20 at-bats), two RBIs, two runs scored, three walks, and five strikeouts.

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*This content was translated by AI.