From the first 500 home runs in professional baseball history to the dream of a 1,000-win manager, the KBO League has glamorous records waiting in 2025.

The most notable record is Choi Jeong's 500 home runs with SSG. After breaking the personal career home run record (467) previously held by Doosan's Lee Seung-yeop, Choi Jeong is currently at 495 home runs, leaving just 5 to reach 500. He also hit 2 home runs in 7 games during the exhibition games held ahead of the opening.

With his unique consistency, Choi Jeong has recorded double-digit home runs for 19 consecutive seasons since 2006, and since 2016, he has achieved 20 home runs for 9 consecutive seasons, currently ranking first in total runs scored (1,461). He is just 39 runs away from becoming the first to reach 1,500 runs, making it likely to be achieved within this season.

However, both the 500 home runs and 1,500 runs scored have been delayed due to an unexpected injury. On the 17th, before the exhibition game against KIA in Gwangju that was canceled due to a cold wave, Choi Jeong felt discomfort in his right hamstring during defensive training. While making a catching motion with his body stiffened by the cold, he strained his hamstring.

Following two examinations on the 18th and 19th, Choi Jeong was diagnosed with partial damage to his right hamstring (Grade 1). Fortunately, it is not a serious injury, but he has been ruled out of the season opening game on the 22nd. Although the pain has subsided, he will be able to determine his return date after re-examination at the end of March. If there are no issues, he will play in the Futures League to regain his game sense before determining a date for his return to the first team.

Meanwhile, LG's Park Hae-min is challenging for the first-ever 12 consecutive seasons with 20 stolen bases. Last year, with 43 stolen bases, he achieved 20 stolen bases for 11 consecutive seasons, sitting alongside Jeong Geun-woo. If Park Hae-min records more than 20 stolen bases this season, he will set the record for the first-ever 12 consecutive seasons with 20 stolen bases. Having made appearances in every game since 2022, including three straight seasons, Park Hae-min has showcased his strong endurance with a consecutive games streak of 445, which could place him sixth in the all-time consecutive games played list if he completes another full season.

Last year, Samsung's Oh Seung-hwan broke the record for the oldest save. This year, he is aiming for the highest wins and holds as the oldest pitcher. Born on July 15, 1982, Oh Seung-hwan is currently 42 years, 8 months, and 5 days old as of March 20. If he pitches after September 8, at the end of the season, and is recorded as the winning pitcher, he will break the 16-year-old record for the oldest winning pitcher, held by Hanwha's Song Jin-woo at 43 years, 1 month, and 23 days. There is also attention on whether he can surpass the hold record of 43 years, 1 month, and 26 days set by Song Jin-woo in 2009.

KIA's Yang Hyun-jong, known for his consistency and comfort, is also challenging for a historic record. Having steadily built records every season, Yang Hyun-jong recorded 129 strikeouts last year, achieving the record for 10 consecutive seasons with 100 strikeouts previously held by Lee Kang-chul (former Haitai) and Jang Won-jun (former Doosan). If he secures 100 strikeouts this season, he will become the first player in KBO League history to achieve 11 consecutive seasons with 100 strikeouts. Additionally, he is on track for the second-ever record of 12 consecutive seasons pitching 100 innings.

Kiwoom's Lee Yong-kyu is on the cusp of 400 stolen bases. So far, only five players in KBO history have achieved over 400 stolen bases: Jeon Joon-ho (former Heroes, 549), Lee Jong-beom (former KIA, 510), Lee Dae-hyung (former KT, 505), Jung Soo-keun (former Lotte, 474), and Park Hae-min (current LG, 411). Lee Yong-kyu currently has 396 stolen bases, needing just 4 more.

As for foreign players, KT's Mel Rojas Jr. is aiming for the all-time most home runs by a foreign batter. Entering his sixth season in Korea, Rojas has accumulated 164 home runs, trailing by 10 home runs behind the leader, Tyrone Woods (former Doosan, 174). Additionally, he has a total of 521 RBIs, which he could surpass this season, previously held by Jay Davis (former Hanwha, 591).

Among the managers, Hanwha's Kim Kyung-moon is looking to achieve the dream of 1,000 wins. In the 43-year history of the KBO League, only two managers have achieved over 1,000 wins: Kim Eung-yong (1,554 wins) and Kim Sung-keun (1,388 wins). Having accumulated 938 wins by last year, Kim Kyung-moon needs to add 62 wins to reach 1,000 this season. If Hanwha makes it to the postseason, this record is certainly within reach this season.

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