In the ever evolving KBO, things can change quickly. Prior to game action on Saturday, Kiwoom made a roster move placing their import hitter on waivers:
My story on Taylor Motter's release, with details on waiver process in #KBO. Teams have 7 days in which to claim him. If Motter clears waivers, he becomes a free agent but not eligible to play elsewhere in the KBO in '20https://t.co/JW0bhKdMOL
— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) May 30, 2020
Motter never seemed comfortable in the KBO, he openly complained about how South Korea treated his wife during her quarantine entering the country and his struggles to assimilate or produce led to this result. It’s not easy to transition to a new culture and a fellow unnamed import saw the writing on the wall:
Spoke to a foreign (not on Kiwoom) player two weeks ago who flat out said this about Taylor Motter “he’s not going to make it!” Asked him why he though that way and he said “Motter just complained about everything” #kbo
— Daniel Kim ??? ? (@DanielKimW) May 30, 2020
Also affecting Kiwoom, leadoff hitter Keon-chang Seo sat out Saturday’s contest with inflammation in his elbow prompting Jung-hoo Lee to hit first and bringing Woong-bin Kim into the third spot in the lineup. Even better news emerged during Kiwoom’s 14 run outburst including this performance by a hitter entering the game with a .200/.267/.200 slash line:
#KiwoomHeroes Hye-sung Kim goes 4 for 5 tonight and hits for the cycle. Kim becomes 26th player in #KBO history to do so. pic.twitter.com/I6Kf2GpMN4
— Daniel Kim ??? ? (@DanielKimW) May 30, 2020
Hye-sung Kim tripled in his last at-bat accomplishing the feat of hitting for the cycle and finished 4-for-5 scoring three runs and driving in four. Doosan rallied late to tie the score in the ninth inning then walked off the win over Lotte in the bottom of the 11th:
#doosanbears
— ??? (@kangaroo44444) May 30, 2020
??? ??? pic.twitter.com/g3D3B14wqA
Kyoung-min Hur drove in two runs including the game winner in the 11th with two outs and two runners on. Doosan’s won two in a row but the hottest team in the league right now, Samsung won its fourth straight including the first two in a series against the first place NC Dinos. Check out the rest of the game action in today’s Round Up.
Starting Pitcher Spotlight
Kia’s Min-woo Lee recorded his third win working seven innings giving up three hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks with eight strikeouts versus the LG Twins. Lee lowered his ERA to 3.23 and WHIP to 1.11 as a result of this outing.
David Buchanon fired seven innings allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out three for his third win helping Samsung defeat the NC Dinos. This marks Buchanon’s second win and quality start in a row. He’s now 3-2 on the year with a 4.50 ERA and 1.19 WHIP after a rough start to his season.
Won-tae Choi notched his first win of 2020 logging six innings yielding five hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts for Kiwoom. Choi lowered his ERA to 3.67 through 27 innings spanning five starts.
Hitter Highlights
Kiwoom Heroes
Scored a season high 14 runs on 16 hits in a 14-3 win over the KT Wiz. As referenced above, the cycle by Hye-sung Kim highlighted the attack but here’s how his teammates also fared:
Ha-seong Kim (SS) - Went 1-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and walked twice.
Woong-bin Kim (DH) - Racked up three hits in six at-bats scoring two runs and driving in one during his first start of the season.
Dong-won Park (C) - Launched his sixth home run of the year among his three hits driving in four runs and walked once. Park’s recorded three straight games with multiple RBI totalling eight in them going seven for his last 11 with a double and two home runs.
Kia Tigers
Noting bat flips rule the flare department in the KBO, this one by Chan-ho Park represents his first home run of the year:
Park Chan-ho (???) MONSTER 3-run HR + gorgeous bat flip ????
— taewoongi (??) 17-5 (@taewoongii) May 30, 2020
KIA lead 7-0 ????@MyKBO | #KBO pic.twitter.com/nLyLgv8jE2
Kia won its game versus the LG Twins scoring 10 runs on 14 hits. Park finished with three RBI among his five at-bats. Other hitters of note from Kia include:
Ji-wan Na (OF) - Finished 4-for-4 with two runs, a double and an RBI.
Min-sang Yoo (1B) - Racked up three hits, scored two runs, doubled and drove in two over five at-bats.
Seung-taek Han (C) - Recorded a 3-for-3 day with a run, double, RBI and walked in four plate appearances.
KT Wiz
Sang-cheol Moon (1B) - Hit his first home run during a 2-for-3 game with an RBI.
Sung-woo Jang (C) - Went 2-for-2 with his third home run driving in two. He’s registered 18 RBI in 21 games this year for the Wiz.
LG Twins
Eun-sung Chae (OF) - Scored a run, doubled and drove in a run during three at-bats.
Sung-woo Lee (C) - Cracked his second home driving in three in four at-bats.
Samsung Lions
Hak-Ju Lee (SS) - Went 1-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
Won-seok Lee (1B) - Blasted his third home run driving in one and walked in four plate appearances.
Tyler Saladino (1B) - Tallied three hits in four at-bats including a double, scored once, drove in three and moved his modest hit streak to four games.
Min-ho Kang (C) - A double dong day for Kang, his third and fourth of the season, both solo shots.
SK Wyverns
Jeong Choi (3B) - Rapped a double in three at-bats, scored two runs, drove in two runs and walked in four plate appearances. Redemption week continues for Choi with seven hits in 15 at-bats (.467) including three doubles, one home run, seven RBI and he’s walked seven times.
Jamie Romak (1B) - Finished 1-for-4 with a run, double and walked .
Heung-ryun Lee (C) - Racked up three hits in four at-bats along with his first home run driving in two.
Hanwha Eagles
Sung-yeol Lee (1B) - Represented all of his team’s offense hitting a three-run home run, his second home run of 2020.
Doosan Bears
Jose Miguel Fernandez (DH) - Moved one step closer to leading the KBO in most hitting categories going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. He’s one RBI behind Preston Tucker for the league lead but Fernandez leads the KBO in average (.472), runs (20), hits (42) and on-base percentage (.505).
Joo-hwan Choi (2B) - Launched his fifth home run among two hits in four at-bats driving in two and also walked.
Lotte Giants
Jun-woo Jeon (OF) - Recorded three hits in four at-bats scoring two runs, doubled, drove in one and walked.
Chi-hong An (2B) - Moved to third in the lineup going 3-for-5 with two RBI. He’s hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
Sunday’s slate provides a bevy of aces with NC sending Chang-mo Koo (3-0, 0.62 ERA) to the mound trying to snap a two-game losing skid. Samsung counters with Chae-heung Choi (3-0, 1.88 ERA) riding a four game win streak. A battle of imports in Kia with Drew Gagnon going for the home team against Tyler Wilson of the LG Twins. Ditto in Doosan with the Bears matching up Chris Flexen versus Dan Straily of the Lotte Giants.
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Statistical Credits
Eng.koreabaseball.com
myKBOstats.co