*This content was translated by AI.
The team wants to develop him as a starter, but for now, it feels like a waste to pull him from the bullpen. With the top-ranked KT Wiz facing a major hole in its pitching staff due to Asian Games call-ups, 22-year-old Kim Jeong-won has emerged as a welcome lifeline.
On the 18th, KT lost 0-6 at home against Suwon LG Twins. The team's seven-game winning streak ended. With 76 wins, 4 draws, and 47 losses, KT maintains a precarious first-place lead, trailing second-place Samsung Lions (75 wins, 3 draws, 50 losses) by just 1.5 games on the same day.
The biggest variable in the tight race for first place heading into the final stretch is the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The national team has called up three pitchers—starting pitchers So Hyoung-jun (25), Oh Won-seok (25), and closer Park Young-hyun (23)—leaving the pitching staff significantly weakened.
Amid this void, Kim Jeong-won's presence has grown increasingly significant. The game against Daejeon Hanwha Eagles on the 16th was a prime example. With the score tied 4-4, KT brought in left-handed pitcher Jeon Yong-joo (26), but he allowed two walks over one-third of an inning and lost control. In Kang Baek-ho's at-bat with two outs and runners on first and third, a wild pitch was also committed.
With no further room to hold the line, manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) turned to Kim Jeong-won. Kim retired Heo In-seo on an infield grounder, preventing Jeon Yong-joo's inherited runner from scoring. He then took over the mound for 1⅓ innings, allowing one hit and striking out two batters without surrendering a run. His performance was decisive in securing the tie for KT.
This is not merely a temporary burst of brilliance. Since returning to the first division on August 19, Kim has gone eight consecutive games without allowing an earned run. His season ERA, which had soared into the high sixes, has dropped to 2.70. His overall record this season stands at 13 games played, one win with no losses, one hold, over 13⅓ innings pitched, and 14 strikeouts. Notably, in six September games, he allowed just one hit over 5⅓ innings while recording eight consecutive scoreless strikeouts.
The team's leadership is also celebrating Kim's growth. Ahead of the Suwon LG game on the 18th, manager Lee Kang-cheol stated, "(Kim) Jeong-won has performed well this year. If he stays healthy next year, we'll be able to use him effectively. His stuff is at its best right now. With players heading to the Asian Games, if even he were unavailable, it would have been truly dark." He added, "We've prepared him as a starter, so throwing one or two innings wouldn't be an issue."
The problem lies in how well he's pitching. Manager Lee is already considering Kim Jeong-won as the top candidate to start against NC Dinos on the 23rd. Another potential option is Moon Yong-ik (31). While there's a plan to deploy foreign pitchers after four days of rest, recent results from that same four-day rotation have been unsatisfactory, leaving the manager with concerns.
The manager explained, "I want to use (Kim) Jeong-won as a starter on the 23rd, but if I do, we'll be left without middle relievers. If he starts, he'd need five days of rest." He continued, "Still, Kim is our first option. His control is solid, so it's not a game where we can afford to lose."
This isn't just about the single game on the 23rd. The manager said, "We're thinking long-term and plan to keep using him as a starter. His changeup is effective, allowing him to handle both left-handed and right-handed batters. For now, he's also proving valuable in relief roles."
Kim Jeong-won graduated from Daegu High School and was selected 10th overall in the first round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft by KT. He is a right-handed sidearm pitcher. Early in his professional career, he faced challenges. As his once-reliable control wavered, he attempted to adjust his pitching form, but it didn't suit him, and his velocity dropped by nearly 10 km/h. Ultimately, he opted for early military service.
The turning point came during his time with the Army Baseball Team (Sangmu). In his first season, he recorded two wins with no losses, three holds, a 2.30 ERA, and 31 strikeouts over 27⅓ innings in 19 games, demonstrating clear potential. Although he missed many games due to an elbow ligament injury, he regained his control and the movement of his pitches by returning to his high school-style coiled pitching motion while with the Army team.
KT's scouting team has long praised Kim for his aggressive competitive spirit, excellent movement, and precise breaking-ball control. From the draft onward, he was expected to be versatile enough to contribute in both starting and relief roles. The first-round prospect who seemed destined to fade away has now returned as a pitcher too valuable to even consider removing from the bullpen.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
