"He should have been more cautious even outside the ballpark": Shock over So Hyoung-jun's unprecedented reflection letter following KS 5-walk incident; what happened to the national team ace?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

KT Wiz national team ace So Hyoung-jun (25) left a lengthy apology letter for fans after finishing as runner-up in the Korea Series (KS). He bowed his head, reflecting on his actions and attitude displayed during the preparation period for the Korea Series.

On the 10th, So Hyoung-jun stated through his personal social media, "I sincerely thank the fans who have given me much support this season," adding, "The image I presented during the period preparing for the Korea Series seems to have caused great disappointment to the fans who had expectations and supported me."

He continued, "Through this incident, I felt that not only the image I present on the field but also my actions and attitude outside the ballpark required greater caution as a professional player," saying, "I was made to think again about what it means for fans to support me, and I will act with commensurate responsibility."

This year was unusually busy for So Hyoung-jun. He began building his body early in February to align with the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team schedule, and in March, he took the international stage wearing the national emblem. In the WBC match against Czechia, he became the winning pitcher by pitching 3 scoreless innings, demonstrating potential as a national team starting pitcher.

However, an unexpected injury struck during the regular season. After the game against Lotte Giants on May 5, he felt discomfort in his right shoulder and was diagnosed with a supraspinatus strain, forcing him out of the lineup. So Hyoung-jun, who returned in the match against Doosan Bears on June 18, regained his ace form. In particular, in July, he recorded consecutive quality starts in three games, pitching well with an ERA of 0.95.

In September, he joined the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team. In the Super Round match against Japan, he struggled, allowing three runs in three innings, but Korea defeated Japan 3-1 in the final to win the gold medal.

His performance continued after returning to his home team. He recorded a 10-3 record, an ERA of 3.15, and 106 strikeouts in 131⅓ innings across 23 regular season games. Despite being sidelined for over a month due to injury, he achieved his fourth career double-digit win total, contributing to KT's 90 wins and first-place finish in the regular season. Expectations for the Korea Series were also high. So Hyoung-jun, who had secured his ninth win of the season by pitching 5 scoreless innings against Samsung on the 7th of last month, prioritized winning the championship over personal records.

At the time, he vowed, "If I feel even a slight strain, I will cleanly give up on reaching 10 wins and focus entirely on preparing for the Korea Series," adding, "Last year, I had to watch fall baseball from home, which left me feeling empty. The Korea Series is not an opportunity that comes easily to anyone. I will enjoy every moment of the remaining games and do my best."

Ultimately, he achieved 10 wins and took the stage in the Korea Series, but the result differed from expectations. So Hyoung-jun started Game 3 of the Korea Series against Samsung held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 6th, pitching 6 innings with 3 hits allowed, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 4 runs allowed, taking the loss.

During the 131st⅓ innings of the regular season, he allowed only 24 walks, with a single-game maximum of 2 walks, but that day was uniquely different. In the Korea Series, he issued 5 walks through the second inning, ceding momentum to Samsung.

Because So Hyoung-jun had previously been strong in big games, the disappointment among KT players and fans was even greater. So Hyoung-jun contributed to KT's first championship in franchise history by pitching 6 scoreless innings in the 2021 Korea Series. Prior to this series, he had a career postseason record of 3 wins, no losses, and 1 hold in 8 games with an ERA of 1.48, proving to be a pitcher strong in high-stakes situations. However, this year he took his first Korea Series loss in Game 3, and KT failed to rebound afterward, finishing as runner-up with a series record of 1 win and 4 losses.

In this apology letter, So Hyoung-jun also emphasized responsibility off the field. He stated, "I will not take lightly the feelings of fans who were disappointed by my performance," promising, "I will show a more cautious and responsible attitude both inside and outside the ballpark to become a player worthy of receiving fans' trust and love again."

He concluded his post with repeated apologies, saying, "I sincerely thank the fans who have always believed in and supported me. I will show a better performance going forward to repay the support and trust you have given. I am truly sorry for disappointing you once again."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original