SSG Landers’ ‘Guardian God’ Seo Jin-yong , who reached the 30 save mark without a blown save for the first time in the KBO League, continues his challenge toward another new history.
Seo Jin-yong reported his 30th save of the season, taking responsibility for one inning scoreless in the game against the Lotte Giants in Sajik on the 5th, with the team leading 9-6 in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Seo Jin-yong, who is running at the top of the save division, occupied the 30 save hill first among the closers in the 10 clubs.
There was not a single blown save until Seo Jin-yong made 30 saves. Seo Jin-yong is the first player to record 30 saves without a blown save since 2006, when the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) started counting blown saves.
Seo Jin-yong also recorded 30 saves in a season for the first time this year. Last year’s 21 saves was the previous most individual saves in a season.
Seo Jin-yong, who had been given opportunities as a closer until last year but failed to build trust, stood tall as the best closer this year, boasting a fierce pace.
Since the opening, Jin-Yong Seo has been marching for 20 consecutive games. It wasn’t until May 21 against the Lotte Giants that Sajik recorded his first earned run of the season.
Seo Jin-yong, who recorded 20 saves for the season against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju on June 7, added 10 saves in 17 games.
Seo Jin-yong, who made 30 saves in his 43rd individual appearance and 91st game for the team, wrote a record for the club’s smallest game, including his days with the predecessor SK Wyverns. In 2019, Ha Jae-hoon reached the 30 save mark after 117 team games and 51 individual games.
Seo Jin-yong’s on-base per inning (WHIP) is 1.53 and his hit rate is 0.239, which is rather high, but he does not easily score points in a crisis situation.
When there are no runners, Seo Jin-yong’s batting average is 0.323 and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) reaches 0.889. Despite his rather high WHIP and hit rate, Seo Jin-yong’s ERA is only 1.42.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyeong, who first picked Seo Jin-yong as the best player in the first half, said after he made 30 saves, “Achieving 30 saves is not luck, but clear skill.” Overcoming and accumulating experience and saves seems to have a good effect.”
Seo Jin-yong now challenges another new history.
First of all, the club’s record for most saves in a season has come into sight. The SSG club’s record for most saves in a season, including the days of SK, is 36 saves written by Ha Jae-hoon in 2019. At that time, Ha Jae-hoon won the salvation king.
Since the team still has 52 games left, if there are no variables such as injuries, Seo Jin-yong seems to be able to easily surpass Ha Jae-hoon’s record.
Seo Jin-yong, who is ahead of second place Hong Geon-hee (Doosan Bears, 22) in saves by 8 points, has a high possibility of winning the title of king of salvation.
If Seo Jin-yong wins the title of King of Salvation without committing a single blown save until the end of the season, this will also be the first case.
Since 2006, no player has ranked first in saves without a blown save.
Oh Seung-hwan, who is nothing short of a “living history” as a KBO League closer pitcher, played in 2006 (47 saves), 2007 (40 saves), 2008 (39 saves), 2011 (47 saves), 2012 (37 saves), and 2021. He became the king of salvation six times, including in 2011 (44 saves), but never won the title without a blown save.
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