"Record-breaking firsts and oldest ages emerge": Choi Hyeong-woo, Ryu Hyun-jin, and Kang Min-ho prove that age is just a number

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Each team played 144 games, bringing the long race of a total 720 games to a close. This season, too, professional baseball produced numerous records. Among them, what many had in common was that they were first-of-their-kind or oldest-ever records.

Most of the numerous first-time records were related to cumulative career statistics, meaning they could only be achieved by performing well over a long period in a player's career. With thorough self-discipline and outstanding skill, KBO's living legends proved once again this season how long a playing career can last.

The high-quality performances of veteran players provided numerous highlights, and fans responded in kind. This season, the KBO League surpassed the 12th-million spectator mark for the second consecutive year, also breaking the all-time attendance record set last year. On the field, various milestones were established, from a first-year record broken after 44 years to entirely new records.

▲ 2026 KBO League Sets New Record for Highest Regular Season Attendance in History

The 2026 KBO League began its season by breaking the record for the fastest milestone of 10 thousand won spectators in just 14 days after the opening game, and attracted a record-high 7,633,775 fans during the first half alone. It then achieved all subsequent milestones of 10 thousand won additional spectators in the fewest games on record, surpassing the 12th-million-spectator mark in a record-low 684 games on October 1. Riding this momentum, the league surpassed the previous season's record of 12,312,519 spectators set last year on October 5, and concluded the season with a final total of 12,770,551 spectators, setting a new all-time attendance record.

The excitement of the season spread evenly to each team's home ground. For the first time in league history, all eight teams (LG, Hanwha, SSG, Samsung, KT, Lotte, KIA, and Doosan) surpassed 10 thousand won home attendance. In particular, Samsung recorded 1,717,050 home spectators, breaking its own single-season record for the most home attendance set last year (1,640,174) just one year later.

This season's KBO League recorded an average attendance of 17,737, surpassing the previous single-season record for highest average attendance set last year (17,101). A total of 345 games, approximately 48% of all matches, sold out, and the seat occupancy rate reached 85.4%.

▲ Samsung's Choi Hyeong-woo, first in history to reach 4,500 RBIs and 1,000 extra-base hits, and record 10 home runs for the 19th consecutive season

Samsung's Choi Hyeong-woo (43) set first-ever records in career total bases and extra-base hits. On May 10, in the game against Changwon NC, Choi became the first player in KBO League history to reach 4,500 career total bases. After surpassing Lee Seung-yeop (former Samsung) in the 2024 season to take the top spot in career total bases, he has been reaching new milestones each season.

On May 31, in a game against the Daegu Doosan Bears, he also recorded the first career 1,000th extra-base hit in history. The milestone was achieved with 553 doubles, 20 triples, and 427 home runs. This season, Choi Hyeong-woo has hit 18 home runs, becoming the second player in KBO League history to record double-digit home run totals for 19 consecutive seasons, demonstrating a performance that defies his age.

▲ Samsung's Kang Min-ho makes history with first-ever appearance in 2,500 games

Samsung's Kang Min-ho (41) has reached an unprecedented milestone. On April 1, Kang started as the catcher against Doosan in Daegu, becoming the first player in KBO League history to appear in 2,500 games. This achievement follows another landmark he set on March 28, 2024, when he played his 2,238th game against LG at Jamsil, establishing a new all-time record for most career appearances in the league. The record is all the more valuable given that Kang is the only catcher among the top 10 players with the most career appearances.

▲ Hanwha's Ryu Hyun-jin sets record for oldest age and fewest games to reach 1,500 strikeouts; also reaches 200 career wins across Korea and the U.S.

Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (39) became the oldest player and the one who achieved it in the fewest games to record his 1,500th career strikeout, marking the seventh time this milestone has been reached in history. On April 7, against the SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Baseball Stadium, Ryu recorded his 1,500th career strikeout at the age of 39 years and 13 days, surpassing the previous oldest record held by Song Jin-woo (former Hanwha Eagles), who was 36 years, 5 months, and 26 days old. Additionally, he reached this mark in just 246 games, beating the previous fewest-games record of 301 games set by Sun Dong-yul (former Haitai Tigers) by 55 games.

Ryu Hyun-jin also added a starting win in the May 24 game against Doosan in Daejeon, reaching a career total of 200 wins across both Korea and the United States (122 wins in the KBO League and 78 wins in Major League Baseball), thereby demonstrating his status as the greatest pitcher in KBO League history.

▲ SSG's Choi Jeong, First in KBO League History to Hit 20 Home Runs for 11 Consecutive Seasons and Double-Digit Home Runs for 21 Consecutive Seasons

SSG Landers' Choi Jeong (39) extended his record for consecutive seasons with home runs once again. On July 16, in a game against the KIA Tigers at Munsu Stadium, Choi hit his 20th home run of the season, becoming the first player in KBO League history to reach 20 home runs in 11 consecutive seasons. The record was built by hitting at least 20 home runs every year without missing a single season since he recorded his career-high 40 home runs in the 2016 season. Previously, on May 12, in a game against KT Wiz in Suwon, Choi hit his 10th home run of the season, extending his record for consecutive seasons with double-digit home runs to 21. He has been maintaining this streak of double-digit home runs for over 20 years, starting with 12 home runs in the 2006 season.

▲ KT Kim Hyun-soo, First in KBO League History to Record 100 Hits for 17 Consecutive Seasons

KT's Kim Hyun-soo (38) has taken sole first place in the category of consecutive seasons with 100 hits. On July 18, in a game against LG at Jamsil, Kim recorded his 100th hit of the season, surpassing the record of 16 consecutive seasons with 100 hits previously shared by Yang Jun-hyuk and Park Han-i (both former Samsung players), to become the first player in history to achieve 100 hits in 17 consecutive seasons. Excluding his period playing overseas (2016–2017 seasons), Kim has recorded at least 100 hits every season since the 2008 season.

▲ LG's Kim Jin-seong sets KBO League career record for most holds

LG's Kim Jin-seong (41) recorded his 178th career hold in the August 11 game against Kiwoom at Gocheok, securing the sole lead in career holds. The previous record was held by Ahn Ji-man (former Samsung) with 177 holds. In the May 23 game against Kiwoom at Jamsil, he recorded his 10th hold of the season, becoming the eighth player in KBO League history to post double-digit holds for five consecutive seasons. Having set two milestones in the holds category this season, Kim Jin-seong once again cemented his presence as a representative bullpen pitcher in the league.

▲ Woo Kyu-min Becomes Third Pitcher in History to Appear in 900 Games

KT Wiz's Woo Kyu-min (41) demonstrated the dignity of a veteran. He made his 900th career appearance as a relief pitcher in the game against Suwon Hanwha Eagles on September 3. This marks the third-highest number of games pitched in history, following Jung Woo-ram (former Hanwha, 1,005 games) and Ryu Tae-hyun (former LG, 901 games). Woo continued to consistently protect KT's bullpen thereafter, finishing the season with 908 career appearances. In doing so, he surpassed Ryu to rank second all-time in this category.

Lotte's Reyes sets new single-season record with 211 hits; KT's Choi Won-jun also reaches 200-hit mark

Lotte's Victor Reyes (42) and KT's Choi Won-jun (29) engaged in a fierce race for hits at the end of the season. As a result, the KBO League recorded its first instance of two players surpassing the 200th-hit mark in a single season. Choi Won-jun reached 200 hits first in the October 6 game against Kiwoom at Gocheok, setting his third such record following Seo Geon-chang (Nexen) in 2014 and Reyes (Lotte) in 2024. On the same day, Reyes took over the baton in the game against Doosan at Sajik. Reyes became the first player to achieve a 200-hit season twice.

Relying on the momentum, Reyes finished the season with 211 hits, breaking his own single-season record of 202 hits set in the 2024 season. Choi Won-jun also capped off a career-high season with a final total of 208 hits.

▲ SSG's Park Sung-han sets new record with 22 consecutive games with a hit, the most in KBO League history since the start of the season

SSG Landers' Park Sung-han (28) broke a KBO League inaugural-season record after 44 years. From the opening game against KIA in Incheon on March 28 to the match against Samsung in Daegu on April 21, Park recorded hits in 19 consecutive games, surpassing the previous record of 18 consecutive games with hits set by Kim Yong-hee (former Lotte) in 1982. He extended his hitting streak through the game against KT in Incheon on the 24th, ultimately setting a new record of 22 consecutive games with hits. Park, who maintained his early-season batting form until the end, finished the season with a career-high performance, posting a .330 batting average, 175 hits, 71 runs batted in (RBIs), 96 runs scored, a .425 slugging percentage, and a .429 on-base percentage.

▲ KIA's Jung Hae-young sets record for youngest player to reach 150 saves

KIA's Jung Hae-young (25) set a new KBO League record as the youngest pitcher to reach 150 career saves. On May 24, Jung recorded a save in a game against SSG in Gwangju, becoming the 12th player in history to achieve 150 career saves. At the time of his achievement, he was 24 years, 9 months and 1 day old, more than two years younger than the previous record holder, Oh Seung-hwan (former Samsung), who reached the milestone at 26 years, 9 months and 20 days old.

▲ LG's Park Hae-min, first in KBO League history to record 20 stolen bases for 13 consecutive seasons and fourth all-time to reach 500 stolen bases

LG's Park Hae-min (36) recorded his 20th stolen base of the season in the June 13 game against Lotte at Jamsil, becoming the first player in KBO League history to achieve 20 or more stolen bases for 13 consecutive seasons. Park has consistently recorded at least 20 stolen bases since the 2014 season. Last season, he surpassed Jeong Geun-woo's (former Hanwha) previous record of 11 consecutive seasons (2006–2016) with 20 or more stolen bases, and this year extended that record by one additional season.

He also left a significant mark in the career stolen base category. On June 5, against Changwon NC, he recorded his 476th career stolen base, surpassing Jung Soo-geun (former Lotte, 474 stolen bases) to move into sole fourth place. Then, on October 6, he successfully stole his 500th career base, becoming the fourth player in history to reach the 500th-stolen-base milestone, following Jeon Jun-ho (former Heroes), Lee Jong-beom (former KIA), and Lee Dae-hyung (former KT).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original