"170 innings is greedy." I'm going to go beyond my permanent number and become a league legend... The next target of the first 400 starters 'Great Pitcher' is the most strikeouts in 2049. There are 30 left.

Jul 11, 2024

KIA-LG match held at Jamsil Stadium on the 10th. Yang Hyun-jong, who set a record for his first 400 starts in the KBO, is receiving a bouquet of flowers from head coach Lee Bum-ho, while KIA won a 5-2 come-from-behind victory. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.10/

The KIA-LG match at Jamsil Stadium on the 10th. Yang Hyun-jong, who passed the crisis with two outs and second base in the bottom of the fourth inning, is coming down jokingly with Park Dong-won. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.10/

KIA-LG match held at Jamsil Stadium on the 10th. KIA Yang Hyun-jong took the mound as a starting pitcher. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.10/

The result of the efforts of the Gwangju franchise star, who expressed his ambition to permanently cancel his number 54, from the KIA Tigers, is a legend of the KBO.

KIA Tigers' Yang Hyun-jong made his first 400 starts in the KBO League.

Yang Hyun-jong made his 400th start in an away game against the LG Twins in Jamsil on the 10th. Yang Hyun-jong made 500 appearances against the Samsung Lions in Daegu on the 4th, the previous one, and earned the record of his 400th start in the next game.

Yang Hyun-jong, who graduated from Dongseong High School in Gwangju and joined KIA as the No. 1 player in the second round in 2007, played a key role in KIA's selection, starting with six starts that year. Yang's strength is his consistency. He started around 30 games every season from 2014 to last year. This is the result of thorough self-management without injury. From 2015 to 2017, he started 31 games for three consecutive seasons and played a role as a team ace. In particular, he won 20 games in 2017 and put his team on the regular league-Korea series title, becoming the regular league MVP.

Yang Hyun-jong also filled 100 innings this season by catching Austin, the leadoff hitter, with a straight hit as a pitcher in the bottom of the fourth inning. He became the third player in the KBO League to record 100 innings for 11 consecutive seasons. It would have been even better if he became a winning pitcher on this meaningful day, but he had to be satisfied with his team's come-from-behind victory.

KIA-LG match held at Jamsil Stadium on the 10th. Yang Hyun-jong, who cut his hair short, is coming down after the first inning. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.10/

KIA-LG match held at Jamsil Stadium on the 10th. KIA Yang Hyun-jong took the mound as a starting pitcher. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.10/

A game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 25th. KIA Yang Hyun-jong is warming up with his teammates. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.25/

Yang Hyun-jong pitched six hits (one home run), no four outs, three strikeouts, and one run in five innings, but he was replaced by Lim Ki-young in the bottom of the sixth inning when he was trailing 0-1 due to lack of help from the batters. Fortunately, the team scored two points in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game 2-2, and scored three points in the top of the 10th inning to win a 5-2 come-from-behind victory, and Yang Hyun-jong's hard-throwing came to be rewarding. Yang received a bouquet of congratulations from coach Lee Bum-ho after the game.

Yang Hyun-jong is steadily building his career record, so he is gradually approaching a milestone. Yang Hyun-jong, who is second in the total number of wins with 174 wins, is 36 wins shy of Song Jin-woo's 210 wins. If you add 26 wins, you will win 200 games for the second time ever.

I can see the highest point. It's a total strikeout. He added three more on the day, recording a total of 2019 strikeouts, and he only needs to catch 30 more to surpass Song Jin-woo's 2048. It is expected that 'Daegwansik' will be seen within this season.

Yang Hyeon-jong said, `I knew 100 innings, but I found out after taking the mound for 400 games.' `As I have maintained this so far in my career, I think my career records are naturally following. I'm proud of what I've been throwing steadily without getting sick and I think it's my strength."

Yang Hyun-jong is the only one who is greedy because he doesn't care about the record. It's the inning. Yang Hyeon-jong "I always say, but I'm not conscious of the record. I came this far because I focused on winning and did my part"But I'm greedy for 170 innings. I'll continue my challenge this season" Yang Hyun-jong has pitched more than 170 innings for nine consecutive years since 2014 and is trying for 10 consecutive seasons this year.

Yang Hyun-jong, who returned after taking a break from taking the mound after being replaced in the fifth inning of the Gwangju LG match on June 18, said, `After returning from injury, his physical condition is very good. "Because I rested well enough during the All-Star break, I'm going to throw the starting rotation in the future without missing it. "I think I only have more work to run because I'm managing my physical strength well, and the team remains in first place. "Thanks to the fans who always give us great support, regardless of home or away, we are playing in the heat, and we are grateful."

indyk@sportschosun.com