Left-handed pitchers Yang Hyeon-jong (35, KIA Tigers) and Kim Gwang-hyun (35, SSG Landers), who represent the KBO League, will face off eight years after the 2015 season.
Yang Hyeon-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun will start side by side in the third match between the teams of the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ to be held at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on the 9th.
Yang Hyeon-jong안전놀이터and Kim Gwang-hyun have been steadily drawing a rivalry since their debut as motives for the 2007 KBO League rookie draft. Yang Hyeon-jong won 160 wins and Kim Gwang-hyun 151 wins, emerging as a left-handed duo born in 1988 that represents the league.
KIA and SSG’s team flow is not bad, so their confrontation is more interesting. The home team KIA is in 4th place in the league with a season record of 13 wins and 12 losses. While running for five consecutive wins, the streak ended when they lost 4-7 to the Lotte Giants on the 2nd.
The SSG on the road is also not bad. SSG is leading the league with a record of 20 wins and 10 losses this season. Recently, he has been on an upward curve, winning 5 consecutive wins, including sweeping 3 consecutive weekend matches with Kiwoom Heroes.
As both teams put forward their aces, there is a high possibility that the winner of the match will be determined depending on how much Yang Hyun-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun bring the atmosphere of the beginning. It is a match between two pitchers who must defeat the opponent’s ace in order to continue their winning streak.
Not only this, but the fight for pride is at stake for each player. Yang Hyun-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun have faced each other six times since their debut in 2007. KIA and SSG (former SK) are recording 3 wins and 3 losses, and in the opponent’s record, Yang Hyeon-jong is recording 2 wins and 2 losses, and Kim Gwang-hyun is recording 2 wins and 3 losses. Of interest is who will win the third victory first, Yang Hyeon-jong or Kim Gwang-hyun.
At the beginning of this season, Yang Hyeon-jong is a little ahead of the momentum. He has two quality starts (less than 3 earned runs in 6 innings) and is recording 1 win and 2.63 earned run average in 24 innings. On the other hand, Kim Gwang-hyun is shaking a bit with an average ERA of 4.30 with 2 wins and 23 innings including one quality start.
The pride fight of the duo born in 1988 representing the league. After 8 years, who will be the one who will sweep away both team and individual honors in head-to-head matches?
◆Yang Hyeon-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun’s previous head-to-head matches (6 times)
1) May 25, 2007 Incheon / KIA-6 SK-5
Yang Hyeon-jong-1 inning, 2 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 run,
Kim Gwang-hyun – 5 innings, 8 hits (1 home run) 5 walks, 1 strikeout, 6 runs (4 earned runs), loss
2) October 3, 2008 Gwangju / KIA-2 SSG-5
Yang Hyeon-jong – 5⅔ innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 1 run,
Kim Gwang-hyun – 7 innings, 2 hits 1 walk, 2 runs allowed (no earned runs)
3) August 13, 2013 Incheon / KIA-2 SSG-9
Yang Hyeon-jong – 2 innings, 5 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 5 runs, loss
Kim Gwang-hyun – 6 innings, 3 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts 2 runs, win
4) April 18, 2014 Incheon / KIA-0 SK-11
Yang Hyeon-jong – 6⅓ innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 7 runs, loss
Kim Gwang-hyun – 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, no run, win
5)2015 September 21, 21 Incheon / KIA-7 SK-0
Yang Hyeon-jong – 6 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, no run, win
Kim Gwang-hyun – 5⅓ innings, 7 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, 4 runs, loss
6) September 2015 26th Gwangju / KIA-7 SK-5
Yang Hyeon-jong – 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts, 2 runs, win
Kim Gwang-hyun – 5⅓ innings, 6 hits (1 home run), 5 walks, 4 strikeouts, 5 runs, loss