Professional baseball player Jo Byeong-hyeon (23) of the SSG Landers became the winning pitcher with an impressive performance in the opening game.

Jo Byeong-hyeon pitched in relief against the Doosan Bears in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' game held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on 22nd, recording a victory with 1⅓ innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, 1 strikeout, and no earned runs.

Throughout the game, SSG battled back and forth with Doosan, but in the top of the 6th, Kim Jae-hwan hit an RBI single, allowing SSG to trail 4-5. In the 8th inning, with the score close, Noh Gyeong-eun, who pitched in the 7th, faced a crisis as he allowed a hit to Park Jun-young, followed by a flyout to right field by Jeong Soo-bin, another hit by Kim Min-seok, a strikeout of Kim Jae-hwan, and a walk to Yang Eui-ji, loading the bases with two outs.

In a situation where SSG could completely lose the advantage, they decided to bring in closer Jo Byeong-hyeon despite trailing. Jo managed to get Doosan's foreign hitter Jake Cave to pop out to left field, successfully navigating a crucial crisis without allowing a run. In the bottom of the 8th, O Tae-gon hit a two-run home run, turning the game around.

In the top of the 9th during the last defensive inning, Jo Byeong-hyeon, who was on the mound, got leadoff hitter Kang Seung-ho to pop out to second base and struck out Yang Seok-hwan with a swing and miss. After allowing a hit to substitute Kim In-tae, Jo secured the team's victory by getting Park Jun-young out on a flyout to center field. He became the winning pitcher, responsible for the last four outs in the opening game.

Jo Byeong-hyeon, who signed with SK (currently SSG) as the 28th pick in the second round of the 2021 rookie draft, made his debut in the first team in 2021, but he only recorded an earned run average of 8.10 over 3 games (6⅔ innings). He subsequently enlisted in the military and showed promise during two seasons in the Futures League, recording 6 wins, 3 losses, 5 holds, and 17 saves with an earned run average of 2.85 over 54 games (72⅔ innings).

Upon returning after military service, Jo Byeong-hyeon finally realized his potential. Last season, he recorded 4 wins, 6 losses, 12 holds, and 12 saves with an earned run average of 3.58 over 76 games (73 innings). His ability to strike out batters was remarkable, with a strikeout rate of 11.84 per 9 innings, and in the second half of the season, he took on the role of closer, gaining experience in critical situations.

Before the season opener, SSG manager Lee Soong-yong announced that Jo Byeong-hyeon would be appointed as the full-time closer, reflecting high expectations for his skills. Jo expressed confidence in a spring camp interview, saying, "It was more fun when I was the closer last year. Finishing the game myself made it more enjoyable and heightened my competitiveness. I usually don't feel much tension; I actually find it more fun when I’m put in a crisis situation. They say it's better to keep thoughts simple as a closer, and I feel the same way."

The pitcher with the most saves in a single season for SSG is Seo Jin-yong, who recorded 42 saves in 2023. Jo Byeong-hyeon noted, "I think I need to get at least one or two more than my seniors" and set a goal for this year to achieve the most saves in the club's history. Fans are eagerly anticipating how Jo, who showcased his strong nerves by resolving a bases-loaded situation in the opening game, will perform this year.

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