The Kiwoom Heroes wrapped up the exhibition games in third place in the league by scoring runs with home runs in their final game.

On the 18th, Kiwoom won 3-2 in an exhibition game against the Lotte Giants in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Often cited as a likely candidate for the bottom, Kiwoom surged with three consecutive victories, finishing the exhibition schedule with a record of 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses for a winning percentage of .667.

Kiwoom's starting lineup consisted of Park Ju-hong (left fielder), Ruben RAY (right fielder), Lee Joo-hyung (center fielder), Song Seong-moon (second baseman), Choi Joo-hwan (first baseman), Yeo Dong-wook (third baseman), Kim Jae-hyun (catcher), Jeon Tae-hyun (designated hitter), and Kim Tae-jin (shortstop). Rookie infielder Yeo Dong-wook became the hero of the day by hitting a go-ahead solo home run in the 8th inning. It was the second home run in the exhibition games. Park Ju-hong also contributed with 2 hits in 4 at-bats and 1 RBI.

Starting pitcher Jeong Hyun-woo recorded 4 innings with 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. The bullpen, consisting of Kim Joo-hun (1 inning, no runs), Park Yoon-sung (1 inning, no runs), Lee Kang-jun (1 inning, no runs), Won Jong-hyun (1 inning, no runs), and Joo Seung-woo (1 inning, no runs), secured the team’s victory.

Lotte's starting lineup included Son Ho-young (designated hitter), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Na Seung-yeob (first baseman), Victor RAY (right fielder), Jeon Joon-woo (left fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (center fielder), Park Seung-wook (shortstop), Han Tae-yang (third baseman), and Jeong Bo-geun (catcher). Although Na Seung-yeob, RAY, and Yoon Dong-hee all recorded multi-hits, it wasn't enough to prevent the team from losing.

Starting pitcher Na Gyu-an delivered an impressive performance over 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 hit batter, striking out 8, and giving up 2 earned runs. The bullpen, featuring Song Jae-young (⅓ inning, no runs), Park Jin (⅔ inning, no runs), Kim Sang-su (⅔ inning, no runs), Jeong Hyun-soo (⅓ inning, no runs), and Kim Won-jung (1 inning, 1 run), ultimately failed to maintain the delicate balance. With this defeat, Lotte fell to a three-game losing streak.

In the top of the first inning, Lotte's leadoff hitter Son Ho-young advanced to second base due to a fielding error by the second baseman. Ko Seung-min was retired on a shortstop fly ball, but Na Seung-yeob drove in the first run with a timely hit. RAY and Jeon Joon-woo both made outs without further adding to the score.

In the bottom of the second inning with one out, Choi Joo-hwan hit a double, putting Kiwoom in a scoring position. Yeo Dong-wook struck out, but Kim Jae-hyun got an RBI single to level the score at 1-1. Jeon Tae-hyun struck out, failing to convert the opportunity into a lead. In the third, leadoff hitter Kim Tae-jin reached base with a hit, and due to a wild pitch and a catcher’s throwing error, advanced to third base; however, the top order of Park Ju-hong, RAY, and Lee Joo-hyung fell silent, failing to convert it into a score.

Lotte quickly struck back in the top of the fourth. Leadoff hitter RAY reached base with a hit, and although Jeon Joon-woo was caught on a center fielder fly ball, Yoon Dong-hee's hit and Park Seung-wook's walk set up a one-out, bases loaded situation. Han Tae-yang gave the team a lead with a sacrifice fly. Jeong Bo-geun struck out, ending the additional scoring opportunity.

In the fifth, Lotte's leadoff hitter Son Ho-young walked. Ko Seung-min and Na Seung-yeob made outs, but RAY hit a single to create a two-out opportunity with runners on first and third. However, Jeon Joon-woo grounded out to the shortstop, squandering the chance to extend the lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kiwoom's leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hyun reached base after being hit on the helmet. Jeon Tae-hyun struck out, and Kim Tae-jin was caught on a center fielder fly ball, but Park Ju-hong hit an RBI double to tie the game again. Lee Hyung-jong grounded out to the shortstop.

In the sixth, Lotte's leadoff hitter Yoon Dong-hee hit a double, entering scoring position immediately. However, Park Seung-wook struck out, and Han Tae-yang's ground ball to third base resulted in a tag out while the pinch runner Hwang Seong-bin attempted to advance to third. A pinch hitter, Yoo Gang-nam, faced a strikeout while attempting to bat in the ensuing two-out, one-on situation.

In the bottom of the sixth, with one out, Song Seong-moon drew a walk for Kiwoom, and a fielding error by the second baseman on Kang Jin-seong's ball led to a one-out, first and second base chance, but both Yeo Dong-wook and Kim Dong-heon made outs. In the top of the seventh, Lotte also had a one-out situation with Ko Seung-min and Na Seung-yeob hitting consecutive singles, setting up a two-out, second and third base situation, but Lee In-han grounded out to the shortstop. In the bottom of the seventh, Kiwoom created a one-out, first and third base chance with hits from Jeon Tae-hyun and Park Ju-hong, but Lee Hyung-jong struck out and Lee Joo-hyung was also retired on a ground ball to the pitcher, failing to capitalize on the opportunity.

In the eighth, Yeo Dong-wook hit a solo home run against Lotte's closer Kim Won-jung, bringing victory to the team.

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