'From a .100 hitter to 0.930 OPS in the second half, ultimately hitting 20 home runs': Proving the value of power hitter Kim Jae-hwan, who signed for 2.2 billion won, and signaling the revival of the 'power unit' in his final season at Munhak Stadium

*This content was translated by AI.

"There is no problem with my swing."

Even as Kim Jae-hwan (38, SSG Landers) endured a prolonged slump from the early to mid-season, manager Lee Seung-yong (55) never lost faith in him. The reasoning was that he possesses undeniable power-hitting ability and would eventually have his moment to shine again. As the season approached its final stretch, it has been confirmed that Manager Lee's judgment was correct.

On the 20th, Kim Jae-hwan started as the designated hitter at No. 6 in a road game against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. He delivered a clutch home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored to lead his team to a 6-4 comeback victory.

Although he struck out three times, he fulfilled his role at critical moments. After striking out in the second and fourth innings, Kim Jae-hwan faced pitcher Kim Tae-hoon, who had just entered the game, with two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the sixth inning while the team trailed 0-4. With a 1-2 count disadvantage, he powerfully connected with a high forkball on the fifth pitch. The ball struck the right-field wall directly. As the ball rolled away, Kim Jae-hwan rounded third base. The runner from first easily scored at home plate.

He was again retired by a strikeout with two outs and runners on first and second in the seventh inning, but the lineup managed to take the lead in the eighth. In the ninth inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Kim Jae-hwan stepped into the batter's box and lifted Yang Chang-seop's inside slider over the right-field wall.

This was a game-clinching home run and also Kim Jae-hwan's 20th home run of the season. After spending last season at his career low with just 13 home runs, Kim became a 20-home run hitter again in his first season after joining SSG at age 38.

Kim Jae-hwan, who wore a Doosan uniform as a second-round pick in the 2008 rookie draft, endured a long period of obscurity before establishing himself as Doosan's central hitter in 2016. In 2018, he won the home run title (44 home runs) while playing at Jamsil Stadium. As a key hitter, he lifted the championship trophy three times with Doosan.

However, after finishing last season, Kim Jae-hwan moved to SSG. He changed uniforms under a two-year contract worth up to 2.2 billion won. The transfer process was not without controversy, and doubts lingered over whether this was a meaningful acquisition, given that promising hitters like Ryu Hyo-seung had shown their potential the previous year.

Until mid-June, his batting average remained in the .100 range. However, he gradually began to recover afterward, hitting more extra-base hits and accumulating RBIs. In the absence of Choi Jeong and Guillermo Heredia, he became an even greater force.

Kim Jae-hwan's season statistics still leave room for debate regarding whether they fully justify his contract value. He has played in 100 games this season with a .230 batting average (79 hits in 343 at-bats), 20 home runs, 64 RBIs, 41 runs scored, 58 walks, and 122 strikeouts, recording an on-base percentage of 0.346, slugging percentage of 0.431, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.777.

However, his performance in the second half tells a completely different story. In 26 games during the second half, Kim Jae-hwan has recorded a .292 batting average (28 hits in 96 at-bats), seven home runs, and 23 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of 0.378, slugging percentage of 0.552, and an OPS of 0.930. He has become even stronger at the plate with runners in scoring position, hitting .355 there.

The quality of his home runs was also high. Of his 20 home runs, he launched 12 with runners on base over the fence, a number not far behind Kim Do-young (KIA) who leads the league with 37 home runs and 14 such hits. It matched Kang Baek-ho's total of 26 home runs and was just one fewer than Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha) who has 25 home runs.

While SSG has led the league in team home runs five times in the past decade, they have led in runs scored only twice during that period, a fact closely tied to the large number of solo home runs hit. This is why Kim Jae-hwan's addition this season carries special significance for SSG.

Although some still view Kim Jae-hwan with skepticism, the lack of a clear replacement option has relatively increased his value. Choi Ji-hoon has firmly secured the center field position, and Bly Madris, who joined after Guillermo Heredia's injury, has not performed his role at bat. Kim Sung-wook has frequently missed the lineup due to injuries, while Choi Jun-woo, Chae Hyun-woo, Im Geon-woo, and Ryu Hyo-seung have yet to deliver performances up to expectations.

His strong second-half performance naturally raises expectations for next year. Compared to last season, there were many days when Choi Jeong and Heredia were absent, and Han Yu-seom's recent slump has also been prolonged. If Kim Jae-hwan maintains his current pace and healthy Choi Jeong joins with a foreign hitter, the lineup's explosive power can only grow.

Manager Lee Seung-yong is working to reduce the defensive burden on veteran players. In this regard, rotating Kim Jae-hwan in the outfield and Choi Jeong in the infield while flexibly utilizing designated hitters like Choi Jeong, Kim Jae-hwan, Han Yu-seom, Jeon Ui-san, and Ko Myeong-jun can maximize their effectiveness, further boosting expectations.

SSG will usher in the Cheongna Dome era starting in 2028. Next year will be the final season played at Munhak Stadium. To achieve a happy ending, the lineup, which suffered severe slumps this season, must recover. And if the lineup has a successful time next season, it is highly likely that the revived power unit will be at its center.

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*This content was translated by AI.