'LG→Samsung→KT' Pro 23-Year Veteran Iron Man Praised by Championship Coach "Woo Kyu-min is truly amazing! He even started games and threw in 902 appearances"

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), known as a "pitching expert" and the winning skipper of the 2021 Korean Series, lavished praise on veteran sidearm pitcher Woo Kyu-min (41) for surpassing 900 career appearances and reaching an impressive milestone of 902 games.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol expressed amazement at Woo Kyu-min's record of 902 career appearances while speaking with reporters ahead of the Samsung Lions game held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 9th, highlighting the veteran reliever's reliable role in this season's bullpen.

Regarding Woo Kyu-min, Manager Lee said, "He has already thrown in 902 games. Should we re-sign him next year?" He added, "I don't think any pitcher will ever reach 1,000 appearances in the KBO League. Especially considering he has worked as both a starter and a middle reliever, it is truly remarkable that he has appeared in so many games."

Debuting in the pros in 2003, Woo Kyu-min has spent his 23rd professional season with teams including LG Twins and Samsung Lions before joining KT, showcasing his status as an iron man who will be remembered in league history. Especially notable is the purity of his 902-game record, as he has not only served exclusively as a reliever but has also worked as a starter, middle reliever, and closer throughout his career.

Woo Kyu-min's 902-game appearances rank second all-time in KBO League history for pitchers by total games played. He has finally surpassed Ryu Taek-hyun (55, currently SSG Landers coach), who appeared in 901 games, and now looks toward the all-time record held by Jung Woo-ram (41, 1,005 games, currently Hanwha Eagles pitching coach). Notably, Jung Woo-ram started only once in his final game, and Ryu Taek-hyun was a specialist reliever with just 13 career starts. Given these facts, Woo Kyu-min's cumulative record of 130 career starts stands as an extraordinary achievement.

According to statistics from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Woo Kyu-min joined LG Twins in 2003 and began playing at the first-division level starting in the 2004 season. As a starter, he made 130 appearances with 45 wins and an ERA of 4.23. As a middle reliever, he appeared in a record-high 507 games, earning 25 wins and 123 holds. As a closer, he appeared in 265 games, recording 18 wins and 91 saves. Despite the immense number of pitches and innings accumulated while guarding the mound in all roles, he has overcome injuries and continues to perform well even at age 40.

Woo Kyu-min's ongoing performance this season is also impressive. He has been a key resource for KT's bullpen, appearing in 45 games with one win, no losses, four holds, and an ERA of 2.72, demonstrating his enduring effectiveness. Notably, his ERA over the last 10 games is an excellent 1.17.

Finally, Manager Lee Kang-cheol highly praised Woo Kyu-min's command and experience for consistently hitting strikes. The manager remarked, "Other pitchers are throwing balls, balls, balls on the mound, so veterans like him have no choice but to keep playing baseball." He added, "When young pitchers struggle or falter, it is ultimately experienced veterans who hold their ground," offering a pointed compliment.

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*This content was translated by AI.