*This content was translated by AI.
Without this player, the historic first in KBO—a walk-off grand slam by a pinch-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning and bases loaded—would never have happened. He is the man who has recently joined KIA through a trade and emerged as a key infielder for the team. Known as 'Gwangju's Ha,' he is none other than Ha Joo-seok (32).
On the 25th, KIA secured a walk-off comeback victory over Lotte Giants in their regular-season home game at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, winning 8-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With this win, KIA improved to 61 wins, 50 losses, and 2 ties, maintaining sole fourth place in the league. They successfully broke their two-game losing streak and remain just 0.5 games behind third-place LG Twins.
In today's game, KIA took an early 2-0 lead with Na Seong-beom's RBI double in the bottom of the first inning and Kim Sun-bin's infield single to score a run in the bottom of the third. However, KIA's starting pitcher Shirakawa suddenly faltered in the top of the fifth, allowing five runs.
It seemed as though momentum had shifted firmly toward Lotte.
But one player turned that tide with a single swing—and quickly at that: Ha Joo-seok.
In the bottom of the sixth, with KIA batting, leadoff batter Park Sang-jun reached base with an infield single to right field. Next came Ha Joo-seok at the plate. The opposing pitcher remained Lotte's starter Wisely.
Ha calmly selected a high outside pitch (a 149 km/h two-seam fastball). On the second pitch, a forkball at a similar location (139 km/h) came inside the strike zone. Ha did not miss it. He pulled it perfectly over the center-field fence for a two-run home run—his second of the season. The ball traveled 120 meters.
Thanks to Ha's home run, the score narrowed to 5-4, cutting the deficit by one run and completely halting what could have been a futile collapse. Although KIA failed to score in both the seventh and eighth innings despite having leadoff batters reach base, they wrote new history when pinch-hitter Lee Ho-yeon hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs and bases loaded in the ninth inning. It would not be an exaggeration to say this feat was only possible thanks to Ha's earlier two-run homer that laid the foundation for the comeback.
Moreover, starting at shortstop, Ha Joo-seok delivered stable defense throughout the entire game. Alongside third baseman Kim Do-young, he firmly anchored the left side of KIA's infield.
A graduate of Gangnam Elementary, Deoksung Middle School, and Sinil High School, Ha Joo-seok was selected first overall in the first round of the 2012 KBO Rookie Draft by Hanwha Eagles. For nearly 15 seasons until mid-year this year, he appeared poised to remain a franchise star with Hanwha.
But Ha's fate changed in a single moment. About one month ago, on the 23rd of last month, he was traded away from Hanwha and donned the KIA uniform. At that time, KIA executed a one-for-one trade sending pitcher Lee Hyung-beom to Hanwha, which sent Ha Joo-seok to Gwangju.
Ha has now become an invaluable asset for KIA, which is engaged in a fierce battle for playoff positioning. As a veteran, he continues to deliver steady performances. Since joining KIA, he has appeared in 19 games, posting a .295 batting average (18 hits in 61 at-bats), two home runs, five doubles, 10 RBIs, eight runs scored, four walks, and one hit-by-pitch.
Earlier, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho stated ahead of the final game of the first half that "we are severely short on infielders." Although there were several infield resources such as Kim Gyu-seong, Park Min, Jung Hyun-chang, and Lee Ho-yeon, the team still expressed a clear need. That is why Ha Joo-seok was acquired so decisively. Under the manager's trust, he has consistently appeared in games and is meeting expectations.
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*This content was translated by AI.
