"There was no one behind me." AG two-game streak, ERA 0.00: The national team closer's final showdown... "I wanted the last out to be a strikeout"

*This content was translated by AI.

"I thought someone was behind me, but there was no one."

Only five outs remained until the gold medal. There was no more looking back. Park Young-hyun (23, KT Wiz) threw every pitch with the mindset that he had to take responsibility until the very last ball. And he put the finishing touch on Korean baseball's pursuit of a fifth consecutive Asian Games (AG) title with the strikeout he had longed for.

Park Young-hyun returned home through Incheon International Airport on the 28th after the conclusion of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, stating, "It was truly a big game, and I feel incredibly proud to have finished it well and come back."

"Earned run" has become a word that rarely fits Park Young-hyun in the context of the Asian Games. In the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023), which was his first appearance on an adult national team, Park recorded four games, two holds, one save, and an ERA of 0.00. Over 5⅓ innings, he issued only one walk and struck out eight batters.

Three years later, wearing the Taegukgi mark again, nothing had changed. In this tournament as well, Park Young-hyun recorded three games, one save, and an ERA of 0.00. Over four innings, he allowed just one walk and fanned eight batters. The strong performance he showed against Japan and Taiwan three years ago was replicated exactly.

In the first group stage game against Taiwan, he secured a win with one inning pitched, two hits allowed, no walks or hit-by-pitches, and two strikeouts, finishing scoreless. In the Super Round against Japan, he guarded the back end of the lineup over 1⅓ innings, allowing two hits, no walks or hit-by-pitches, striking out three batters, and giving up one unearned run.

And Park Young-hyun was there again at the most critical moment of the final. With Korea leading 3-1 and one out and runners on second base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Park Young-hyun took the mound following Jo Byung-hyun (24, SSG Landers). He then shut down the opposition over 1⅔ scoreless innings, striking out three batters to clinch the gold medal. Looking back, Park said, "(Jo) Byung-hyun hyung's job of holding the runners was the biggest factor. I thought someone was behind me, but there was no one. So I threw with a mindset of doing whatever it takes and blocking them well. Fortunately, my last pitch went in best."

Physically, it was not an easy situation. He had made multiple appearances over a short period and even handled multiple innings in the final. To make matters worse, rain fell during the game, leaving the pitcher's mound in poor condition. Park Young-hyun said, "It was very difficult. But I went into the final with the mindset that I would throw no matter what," adding, "The mound wasn't good, but I didn't want to blame it. I think I just played purely believing in my own ability."

It was not smooth until the very end. After recording two outs in the ninth inning, Park Young-hyun issued a walk and allowed a hit to the following batter, resulting in runners on first and second with two outs. With the gold medal within reach, runners piled up again. Park recalled, "I threw with all my might at the end, but the umpire didn't call it, so it was a walk. My strength drained away," adding, "But I kept thinking, 'If I get this one, it's the gold medal,' and did my best until the very end."

Each time, the voices of his teammates cheering for him from the dugout with all their might turned out to be surprisingly a great source of strength. Park Young-hyun expressed his gratitude, saying, "Every player was desperate. (Kwak) Bin hyung blocked well at the front, so our (bullpen) produced good synergy. Also, (Choi) Jun-yong hyung, (So) Hyeong-jun hyung, and (Oh) Won-seok hyung cheered from the dugout with their throats tearing, which was wonderful. Because the hyungs did that for us, we were able to do it."

When he faced the final batter, strength surged again. Park Young-hyun said, "The next batter looked like a power hitter, so I just threw at full power," adding with a smile, "He kept staring at me as I came in, which made my (competitive spirit) rise even more."

For the final scene, he had already painted a picture in his mind. Park Young-hyun stated, "I would rather give up a walk and take a hit than anything else, but I really wanted to get the last out with a strikeout. If it were a fly ball, I felt like I wouldn't be able to celebrate properly," adding, "For a pitcher, getting the last out with a strikeout seems to be the most thrilling and satisfying."

The wish became reality. He struck out the final batter, confirming Korea's 3-1 victory and the gold medal. From Hangzhou to Aichi-Nagoya, Park Young-hyun has played in seven Asian Games games in total. He has not allowed a single earned run yet. It was another proof of why he is called the national team closer.

There was also a reason this gold medal was even more special. Park Young-hyun himself had already resolved his military service obligation issue through the Hangzhou tournament, but there were teammates on the Lee Beon (CEO) team for whom a gold medal was desperately needed. When asked to compare the burden of the WBC and the Asian Games, Park said honestly, "It's not even comparable. I was really very nervous," adding, "Whether or not military service benefits are at stake seems to make a big difference."

There is no time to savor the joy of the gold medal for long. His team, KT, is also engaged in a fierce battle to secure the regular season championship. In response to a reporter's question, "Would it be possible if you were asked to be on standby to pitch the day after returning home?" Park Young-hyun answered briefly and firmly, "I have to. For the championship."

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*This content was translated by AI.