Seoul: A teenage rookie, Yeo Dong-wook, delivered a decisive solo home run, propelling the Kiwoom Heroes to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) preseason finale on Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 19-year-old Yeo, selected in the third round of the 2024 KBO draft, shattered the 2-2 deadlock with his powerful solo shot against reliever Kim Won-jung in the bottom of the eighth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome. Yeo's home run marked his second of the preseason, contributing to the Heroes' league-best total of 13 home runs.
This match was the sole game played on the preseason's concluding day, as four other games were canceled due to unexpected snowfall. The KBO's 144-game regular season is slated to commence on Saturday. The Heroes wrapped up the preseason with a 6-3-1 record, winning their last three games, while the Giants ended their run at 2-4-2 after three consecutive losses. The KT Wiz boasted the highest winning percentage at 6-1-0.
The Giants initially took the lead in the top of the first inning, with Na Seung-yeup's RBI single scoring Son Ho-young, who had advanced to second after a dropped flyball by second baseman Song Sung-mun. The Heroes countered with Kim Jae-hyun's RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. In the fourth, the Giants reclaimed the lead with a run, thanks to Han Tae-yang's sacrifice fly to deep center field.
However, the Heroes remained resilient. In the bottom of the fifth, Park Ju-hong doubled off the right field wall with two outs, tying the game at 2-2. Yeo's decisive homer in the eighth inning sealed the victory for the Heroes.
For the Heroes, 18-year-old rookie starter Jung Hyun-woo impressed with his performance, allowing only two runs, one unearned, over four innings. Jung, already named the team's No. 4 starter, concluded the preseason with an impressive 0.82 ERA, having allowed just one earned run over 11 innings.
Giants starter Na Gyun-an pitched five innings, striking out eight batters. Heroes manager Hong Won-ki praised Jung's maturity and composure, noting his ability to maintain poise in high-pressure situations.
Jung, the first overall pick in last year's KBO draft, showcased his versatility by throwing a mix of fastballs, forkballs, curveballs, and sliders. Reflecting on his final preseason outing, Jung expressed a desire to refine his performance for the upcoming regular season, emphasizing the need to maintain efficiency and accuracy.