There is a reason behind the 8 billion won blockbuster! 'Two wins in two starts against league-leading KT' Ha Young-min's heroic performance breaks losing streak → proves his contract value on his own

*This content was translated by AI.

Right-handed starting pitcher Ha Young-min (31), who signed an eight-year, 8 billion won contract with Kiwoom Heroes last July (effective from the 2027 season), once again demonstrated his true worth against the league-leading KT Wiz this season, proving the value of his blockbuster deal on his own.

On the 15th, Kiwoom secured a decisive 10-5 victory in an away game against Suwon KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park during the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League', showcasing their offensive power with three home runs. With this win, Kiwoom escaped a two-game losing streak and simultaneously broke the six-game losing streak they had painfully endured against KT this season.

At the center of breaking the losing streak was Ha Young-min's heroic performance as the starting pitcher. On this day, Ha threw 97 pitches over six innings, allowing seven hits, two walks, four strikeouts, and four runs (two earned), recording a Quality Start (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs) to solidly hold down the mound and secure his fifth win (five losses) of the season. Despite missing an entry due to hip pain once, he showed strong form in his return from injury.

Furthermore, Ha Young-min effectively suppressed KT batters by mixing various pitches centered around a fastball reaching speeds up to 147 km/h, including sliders (24), forkballs (20), curves (11), and sweepers (10). With bold and precise control that delivered no fewer than 63 strikes, he subdued the powerful lineup of the league-leading KT.

This season, Ha Young-min has continued to show a particularly strong 'natural enemy' face against KT, who leads the league. In two starts against them, he secured victories both times. After taking a win with a seven-inning scoreless perfect performance in the April 19 game against Suwon KT, he once again engaged in direct confrontations at every critical moment on this day to deliver a precious victory that broke his team's losing streak. Excluding the May 29 and 31 games at Gocheok where he appeared as an intermediate reliever against KT, he boasts a 100% win rate when starting against them.

After the game, Ha Young-min shared his thoughts, saying, "I am happy to have contributed to the team's victory." He continued, "I wavered briefly in the fifth and sixth innings, but I engaged in direct confrontations with the mindset of hitting the target, and good results followed."

He did not forget to express gratitude toward catcher Kim Geon-hee (22), who was perfectly in sync with him. Ha Young-min said, "During pre-game power analysis, we discussed facing batters quickly," adding, "Even during the game, I consistently communicated with (Kim) Geon-hee about pitch combinations and managed the game accordingly. It seems that following Geon-hee's lead on pitch selection led to good results."

The manager also gave a thumbs-up to Ha Young-min's responsible pitching. Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin (53) praised him, saying, "Starting pitcher Ha Young-min, like a veteran, took responsibility for six innings with stable pitching and fully fulfilled his role," sparing no compliments.

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*This content was translated by AI.