On the 23rd, Bae Jung-dae (KT Wiz) delivered a walk-off hit, marking his remarkable 9th career record. It's rare to even have 9 walk-off opportunities during a professional career, yet Bae Jung-dae has achieved this stunning feat. It's truly something that could appear on "The Things That Happen in the World."

Bae Jung-dae started as the 8th center fielder in the second game of the season against the Hanwha Eagles of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League, held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 23rd, and led the team to its first victory of the season with a dramatic walk-off hit in extra innings.

During regular innings, Bae Jung-dae went hitless in 4 at-bats but faced his final at-bat in the 11th inning, tied at 4-4, with one out and runners on first and second base. He calmly watched the first pitch from Hanwha's closer, Joo Hyun-sang, which was a ball, and crushed a 144 km fastball, driving in a run with a double to left-center field. It was the moment that marked the end of a long battle.

After the game, Bae Jung-dae said, "I honestly felt anxious personally because I hadn’t gotten a hit today. But it feels really good to end the day this way," while smiling brightly.

Matching his nickname of "the man who delivers in clutch situations," Bae Jung-dae recorded his 9th career walk-off hit on this day. If limited to walk-off hits, this is his 8th record, putting him alongside notable seniors such as Kim Hyun-soo (LG Twins), Park Byung-ho (Samsung Lions), Son Ah-seob (NC Dinos), and Lee Do-hyung (retired) in the all-time walk-off hit category.

When asked about his secret, Bae Jung-dae responded, "When it’s a walk-off situation, I get really nervous. But it feels good to overcome that at the plate. I often find myself in those situations, and every time it happens, I'm excited. I felt like I was going to get a chance today too."

Interestingly, the ball was headed toward his former teammate and defensive master, Shim Woo-jun. A sense of anxiety washed over him, but fortunately, the ball went past the outfield. Bae Jung-dae stated, "The moment I hit it, I instinctively felt it was a hit, but I saw Shim Woo-jun dive. To me, it seemed like the glove and the ball were really close, but it became a hit. However, Shim Woo-jun caused some trouble in defense for two days. That means he did well."

On this day, his close senior, Moon Sang-cheol, played the role of a "hidden supporter." Bae Jung-dae explained, "Before stepping up to the plate, Sang-cheol was right there, and I asked him how I should hit. He advised me to just think lightly about hitting it in the center. The coach also told me to just believe in myself, which helped me to deliver the walk-off hit."

Is it a burden or a blessing that chances for walk-offs come often in a career? Bae Jung-dae replied, "I think it's a blessing," and added, "Of course, I can say this because the results turned out well, but overcoming the pressure of a walk-off situation brings feelings that are hard to experience in life. A lot of fans came today, and when they cheered my name, it feels like the efforts I put in during the winter are being rewarded."

Of course, that doesn’t mean the nickname "the man who delivers in clutch situations" is always pleasant. Bae Jung-dae revealed that he struggled to overcome the pressure and hit a walk-off for the first time in about three years since September 27, 2022, against the Doosan Bears.

Bae Jung-dae said, "I've felt a lot of pressure recently, and I think I might have missed some walk-off opportunities. But today I was lucky."

After registering his first walk-off in the opening series, Bae Jung-dae's goal for the 2025 season is to play in all 144 games. He was known as a representative iron man in professional baseball, having played in 144 games for three consecutive seasons since the 2020 season.

Bae Jung-dae vowed, "I haven’t been able to play all 144 games recently, but the time has come for me to prove myself again. If my body allows it this year, I will definitely play in all 144 games."

[OSEN]