*This content was translated by AI.
KBO League living legend Yang Hyeon-jong (38, KIA Tigers) has set a grand record of "100 innings for 13 consecutive seasons," an achievement that even the legendary Tiger pitchers who led the Haitai dynasty—Seon Dong-yeol, Lee Kang-cheol, and Cho Gye-hyun—could not accomplish.
On the 21st, Yang Hyeon-jong made his starting appearance in an away game against Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, as part of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League." He pitched 5⅓ innings, allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 batters and surrendering only 1 earned run, leading his team to a decisive 11-1 victory. With this win, Yang Hyeon-jong improved his season record to 9 wins (195 career wins) and reached a total of 2757⅔ innings in his career.
Before the game, Yang Hyeon-jong had pitched 95⅔ innings for the season. He immediately reached the 100th-inning mark for the season by handling leadoff batter Kim Geon-hee with a routine groundout in the bottom of the 5th inning. This marked the moment he achieved "100 innings for 13 consecutive seasons" from the 2013 season through this season, excluding the 2021 season when he advanced to Major League Baseball. This ties the KBO League record for the longest consecutive-season streak of 100 innings, previously held solely by Song Jin-woo (61, former Hanwha Eagles pitcher, 1994–2006 seasons).
Ahead of the game, Kia manager Lee Beom-ho (45) also praised the record, stating, "It is extremely difficult. Being able to pitch steadily means you must manage your body well and avoid any special mistakes. You need to take care of every detail in self-management from the very beginning to have a season without injuries. Considering these aspects, I think Yang Hyeon-jong is truly remarkable. I don't know how long he will continue his playing career, but if he prepares as well as he does now, he seems destined to finish his career with the best possible performance."
After becoming the winning pitcher, Yang Hyeon-jong met with reporters on-site and shared his thoughts: "I think pitching steadily was the biggest driving force. In fact, in the past, I had a goal of reaching 170 innings, but this season the number of innings has decreased significantly. While I am not running toward a specific target, because I have been able to pitch steadily on the mound without getting injured, it seems that such meaningful records keep coming my way."
In fact, this "grand record" is a milestone that even the legendary Tiger pitchers—Seon Dong-yeol, Lee Kang-cheol (who reached 10 consecutive seasons of 100 innings), and Cho Gye-hyun—could not reach. Former national team coach Seon Dong-yeol was limited to just 32⅔ innings in the 1992 season due to injury. Yang Hyeon-jong, who pitched over 100 innings from the 2009 season through the 2011 season, has shouldered three-digit innings throughout his prime years, with only the 2012 season—where he was limited to 41 innings—as an exception outside of his early debut period.
When asked about the regret of the 2012 season, Yang Hyeon-jong responded, "On the contrary, I think that because I pitched fewer innings back then, it has allowed me to pitch steadily up until now. My shoulder has not always been in perfect condition even until recently, but I feel like it has been refreshed. In my younger days, I threw without restraint and suffered injuries, but after going through those difficult times, I prepared more thoroughly to avoid repeating them. It was because of that time that I have been able to remain steady up until now."
With this day's victory, Yang Hyeon-jong reached 195 career wins, leaving just five wins short of the 200th-win milestone. Rather than fixating on records, he emphasized first and foremost his sense of responsibility as a veteran ace.
Finally, Yang Hyeon-jong stated, "My ultimate goal until the day I take off my uniform is to match Senior Song Jin-woo's record (210 wins). However, saying that I aim for 200 wins this season would be disrespectful to my teammates. My role is to create situations on the mound where the team can win and then step down. I will show pitching that does its absolute best solely for the team's victory."
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*This content was translated by AI.
