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  Samsung 424SV legend falters, Kia 111SV closer shuts down

  Jul 1, 2024

  Legend Oh Seung-hwan (42, Samsung Lions) suffered an unexpected blow. Jung Hae-young (23, KIA Tigers) is on the shelf with shoulder inflammation. The saves race is about to get interesting.

  Through June, the leader is Oh Seung-hwan with 24 saves. Jung Jung-young is second with 21 saves. Yoo Young-chan (LG Twins) and Moon Seung-won (SSG Landers) are next with 17 saves. Kim Won-joong (Lotte Giants) with 16 saves and Lee Yong-chan (NC Dinos) with 13 saves round out the top five.

  Oh Seung-hwan will attempt to repeat as the world's best saves leader for the first time since 2021 (44 saves). It will be his sixth career save title after 2007-2008, 2011-2012, and 2021. He will be the oldest pitcher in history to win the title. With 424 career saves in the KBO and 546 career saves in Korea-U.S.-Japan, the odds are definitely in the legend's favor. Just like in 2021, Samsung has a strong batting lineup and a strong back end this year. Saves tend to go to the closer of the team with the best offense.

  Oh Seung-hwan also tasted the bitter end last month, when he gave up two runs on two hits and one walk in ⅓ innings against the Suwon KT Wiz for his third blown save of the season. It had been 12 days since his blown save and loss against the Changwon NC Dinos on March 16, when he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in ⅓ innings.

  Still, Oh is 1-4 with a 2.48 ERA in 35 starts and 24 saves this season. He no longer throws a fastball like he used to. Instead, he mixes in a forkball and a curveball in addition to his main slider. He"s not someone to falter after a bad game or two.

  Jeong Jung-young is closed. He went down with shoulder pain after hitting the game-winning solo shot in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Hanwha Eagles in Gwangju last month. He is still 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 21 saves in 32 games this season. His average fastball velocity has increased to 146 mph, up from 143.2 mph last year, according to Baseball-Reference.com. Last winter, he studied abroad at the Driveline Baseball Center in Seattle, USA.

  Jeong Jung-young's shoulder inflammation is not a major injury. Manager Lee Bum-ho predicted that he could return to the first team from the first game of the second half against the LG Twins on Sept. 9. His quest for his first career save title will resume in the 19사이트 second half. For now, Oh Seung-hwan's strongest opposition is Mada.

  Aside from Oh and Jung, the other pitcher to keep an eye on is Yoo Young-chan. LG, along with Kia and Samsung, has the most stable power. Yoo pitched the second game of a doubleheader in Changwon against the NC Dinos on March 30 when the score suddenly narrowed, but he pitched 1⅔ innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts and no walks to earn his 17th save of the season. In 36 games, he is 5-3, 17 saves, 1 hold, and a 1.89 ERA.

  Their pitching is stable enough to keep their ERAs in the 1-run range. With Samsung and Kia's power, it's unlikely that Oh Seung-hwan and Jeong Jung-young will be able to slow down their save pace. However, saves are contingent on a number of factors, and the tide could change suddenly if they're unlucky. Despite their novice closing, their pitches are anything but novice. Yoo also has a forkball and a slider. His velocity is also competitive, averaging 148.2 kilometers per hour. The late-season saves race will be interesting to watch.

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