The professional baseball team Kiwoom Heroes is sailing smoothly in the exhibition games, powered by their batting lineup.

Kiwoom won 3-2 against Doosan Bears in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' game held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 15th. With this victory, they recorded a total of 4 wins and 3 losses in the exhibition games, rising to 4th place in the league.

The Kiwoom lineup recorded only 5 hits that day. However, Lee Joo-hyung's two-run home run and Lee Jae-sang's crucial solo home run allowed them to take control of the game. In particular, Lee Joo-hyung has hit home runs in three consecutive games, leading the exhibition home run race.

After finishing as runners-up in the 2022 Korean Series, Kiwoom remained at the bottom of the league for two consecutive years, and there was a significant loss in personnel this off-season. Starting second baseman Kim Hye-seong signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 3+2-year maximum of $22 million (approximately 32 billion won), moving to Major League Baseball, and closer Jo Sang-woo left through a trade to KIA. Most experts are citing Kiwoom as a candidate for the bottom this year as well.

However, the performance that Kiwoom has shown in the exhibition games indicates that they will not be an easy team this season. Kiwoom made a splash by bringing in Yasiel Puig and Ruben Cardenas, utilizing two foreign players. Additionally, they have focused heavily on strengthening their lineup by signing veteran players such as Kim Dong-yeop, Kang Jin-seong, and Oh Sun-jin, as well as selecting 6 hitters in last year's rookie draft.

As a result, with three exhibition games remaining, they have recorded 11 team home runs, leading the league overwhelmingly. They are 4 home runs ahead of second-place Samsung (7 home runs). They have hit more home runs than the bottom four teams (Hanwha, Doosan, LG, Lotte) combined (9 home runs), showcasing their powerful offense.

It is also encouraging that home runs are coming not just from one specific player but from several. Lee Joo-hyung alone has recorded 3 home runs, while 8 other players including Yeon Dong-wook, Cardenas, Kim Keon-hee, Song Seong-moon, Lee Hyung-jong, Jeon Tae-hyun, Kim Dong-yeop, and Lee Jae-sang have each hit one home run.

Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki noted in an interview before the game on the 15th, "We have focused heavily on the offensive aspects this year. Although it is just an exhibition, leading in team home runs is positive. I hope this becomes an opportunity for our team's offense to become even more active. I expect it to have a positive impact in the season as well."

Lee Joo-hyung, who has recorded home runs in three consecutive games, stated, "Exhibition games are just exhibition games, but it seems the players have gained more confidence compared to last year. We are a team that has nowhere to fall. All that remains is to rise. Thanks to each other’s efforts to do better, I believe we will create a better synergy together."

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