“I was so sorry this year; I am important”: The pitcher with 150 saves bowed his head, keeping a promise in a moment of crisis [PO]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

“I really think I am important.”

He achieved the youngest career 150-save milestone in Korean baseball history, but had to hand over the closer role. However, on the most important autumn stage, he clearly recognized his role and kept that promise.

Jung Hae-young (25, KIA Tigers) entered as a relief pitcher with one out and a runner on first base in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (best-of-five series) against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 26th, and pitched two-thirds of an inning without allowing any runs.

Starting pitcher James Neal, who had faced only one batter through the first out of the fifth inning, was suddenly ejected for a headshot, and the anxious Manager Lee Beom-ho’s first call was for Jung Hae-young.

Jung Hae-young, who signed with KIA as the top pick in the 2020 draft, served as a key reliever from his rookie season before transforming into a closer the following year with 34 saves, and achieved 30 saves for two consecutive years in 2022.

In 2024, he won the saves title (31 saves) and led the team to the championship, having his best season. He also recorded 27 saves last year. This season, adding two more saves, he became the youngest pitcher in KBO history to reach 150 saves, but he could not hold onto that role for long.

Jung Hae-young had to hand over the closer role due to his slump and the growth of younger teammates. In 55 games, he pitched 50 innings, recording a 4-2 record with 2 saves and 11 holds, but his ERA reached 6.12.

After pitching one scoreless inning in the Preliminary Playoffs, he met with reporters ahead of the start of the Playoffs, saying, “I think my command has been good since the end of the regular season. I believe baseball is a battle of bad pitches, and because I threw many bad pitches, they led to extra-base hits or runs allowed.” He added, “In the postseason, it’s not just about command; if I don’t throw bad pitches, my chances of winning are higher, so I am trying to minimize bad pitches as much as possible.”

This season, he had no excuses. “I gave up many runs and my stats were poor, so I felt a bit down without realizing it,” he said. “But senior (Jeon) Sang-hyun, senior (Yang) Hyun-jong, and senior (Lee) Tae-yang always told me encouraging things, so I think I was able to stay strong and finish the season.” He added, “I really want to be of some help in this postseason, so I am preparing well.”

It was a frustrating season for him. Jung Hae-young said, “This year, my performance fell far short of expectations. I took criticism, but I also received praise when I played well. Ultimately, if I play well, my mental state will improve too.” He vowed, “First of all, I felt very sorry. I felt especially sorry from the second half onward, but because the results were not good, I will do well when I go out there this time.”

A word from Choi Hyeong-woo (Samsung), who he had won the championship with two years ago but now faces as an opponent, gave him great strength. Jung Hae-young said, “Two years ago in the Korea Series, senior Hyeong-woo always told me, ‘If you have power, fight with power no matter what.’ That word comes to mind a lot in this postseason. I am also a pitcher who fights with power in a way, so I think I need to build my stamina well and fight with power.”

And he took the mound in the most important moment after Neal’s ejection in Game 1. He had been preparing to pitch after Neal, but with only 57 pitches thrown, there was not enough time to warm up properly. He allowed a hit and a run by an inherited runner, but more importantly, he stopped the momentum at a moment when the atmosphere could have completely shifted. After an 11-pitch battle with Lee Jae-hyun, he recorded a swinging strikeout with a slider on the outside corner to end the inning.

After the game, Manager Lee Beom-ho praised him, saying, “The pitcher who comes in most urgently is prone to shaking, but with Hae-young coming up, we could immediately prepare (Lee) Yi-ri and (Seong) Yeong-tak.” He added, “Even though Hae-young did not throw many pitches, his speed was at its peak. We had prepared for him to come up around the sixth inning, and he shut down the threat without shaking despite allowing one run, creating an opportunity for the subsequent pitchers to pitch well.”

His mindset was different. Jung Hae-young previously said, “It feels completely different from the regular season. Two years ago, we were in a position of waiting, but this year, we are climbing up like breaking through seals.” He added, “So I think a lot about whether I am really important. I am preparing with a great sense of responsibility.”

He kept that promise in Game 1. There is another reason he must erase his mid-season slump from fans’ minds. Regardless of his postseason performance, he will be drafted into the Military Sports Agency (Sangmu) after finishing the season. Jung Hae-young said, “I want to shed my image of being in a slump before going to the military. I hope that opportunity comes. I will definitely seize it.” He expressed his wish, saying, “This year, if I pitch many games wearing the KIA uniform, it will be three or four; if few, just one. I want to finish well and go,” and he kept that promise in Game 1.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original