The KIA Tigers have rebounded with a five-game winning streak after making a late-season acquisition of a veteran catcher and replacing their entire foreign pitching staff.
With the return of injured players and the addition of new faces, fans are looking forward to seeing how far the Tigers’ unstoppable rise will continue.
Reporter Kim Jae-hyun reports.
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The KIA Tigers have rebounded with 6 wins and 2 losses in nine away games.
A tough schedule was expected, but KIA defied the odds and climbed back to sixth place after falling to ninth.
The rise was sparked by the return of key players from injury.
Na Sung-bum and Kim Do-young, who were sidelined with injuries before the start of the season and at the beginning of the season respectively, have been dominant since returning late last month, while captain Kim Sun-bin has also returned from a finger injury.
And last week, there was also a change at the catcher position, which had been pointed out as KIA’s biggest weakness.
Veteran catcher Kim Tae-gun from the Samsung Lions was brought in via trade.
Since joining the team five days ago, Kim Tae-gun has gone 5-for-16 with five home runs and five RBIs in five games, and he has also energised the mound with his steady hand, helping the team to a five-game winning streak.
▶ Sink: Kim Tae-gun / KIA Tigers catcher
- “I’m grateful to the fans who have been cheering me on since I first arrived. I’ll do my best to make sure the Tigers don’t have any weaknesses in the bullpen.”
The problem of foreign pitchers, another weakness, has also been alleviated.
Sanchez, a midseason acquisition after dominating the Taiwanese league this season, made his KBO debut against KT on the 9th, throwing 6.1 innings of one-run ball and striking out 10 to earn the win.
Another foreign pitcher, Panoni, who had a decent outing with KIA last season and in the American minors this season, was also scheduled to make his return this week.
After a steep climb at the end of the first half, KIA will look to extend their winning streak this week at home in Gwangju against the Samsung Lions.
KBC’s Kim Jae-hyun.