Song Jin-woo, the legendary pitcher who rose to the top of the list! '100K → 2049K' for the 10th consecutive year's strikeout history No. 1 'Elevation'
Aug 21, 2024
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Yang Hyun-jong struck out Lotte Yoon Dong-hee with two outs and a runner on first base in the top of the third inning in Game 2 of the Weekday Series against the Lotte Giants at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 21st.
With this, Yang added three strikeouts on the day, winning his 2049th personal tally. It has risen to the first place in the KBO League, surpassing Song Jin-woo's 2048 in the `Legend.'
Yang Hyun-jong's 24th starting position this season. Yang Hyun-jong finally became the main character of the new history by adding one strikeout every inning.
He struck out Hwang Sung-bin, the first batter of the day, in the first inning. This was also the scene that marked Yang Hyun-jong's 100 strikeouts for 10 consecutive seasons. Lee Kang-cheol and Jang Won-jun, the 3rd in history? It's a record.
Yang Hyun-jong gave up a hit to Reyes in the top of the second inning, but struck out the next batter, Na Seung-yeop. After two outs in the top of the third inning, he induced Yoon Dong-hee to swing and miss with a fastball toward his body, and finally struck out his 2049th.
Yang Hyun-jong is the first player in 18 years since he joined KIA in the first round in 2007. He won 48 in his first year of debut and 56 in the following year.
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However, he has become an ace again since 2014. Since then, he has set a milestone of three-digit strikeouts for 10 consecutive seasons in the KBO League until this year. After winning his 2,000th strikeout in the match against Lotte in Gwangju on June 6, he finally surpassed Song Jin-woo on the same day. It became the No. 1 strikeout among all pitchers who have passed the KBO League in history.
Yang Hyun-jong's record for the time being??I don't see a player who can. There is not a small difference between Kim Kwang-hyun (1849), who is the same age, and Ryu Hyun-jin (1351) is the next active player. In addition, legends such as Lee Kang-cheol, Sun Dong-yeol, Jung Min-cheol, Lim Chang-yong, Bae Young-soo, Park Myung-hwan are following.
Yang Hyun-jong will also challenge the KBO league's first 11 consecutive seasons with 100 strikeouts next season. From now on, every step of walking is a new record.
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
