Professional baseball player Jake Cave (33) of Doosan Bears did not meet expectations in the first two consecutive games of the season opener.
On the 23rd, Cave started as the No. 4 right fielder in the game against SSG Landers in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League held at Incheon SSG Landers Field, recording four at-bats with no hits and two strikeouts.
In his first at-bat with two outs and a runner on first base in the top of the first inning, Cave was out on a ground ball to first base. In the fourth inning with one out, he struck out swinging against Kim Gwang-hyun. In the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Cave faced Kim Gwang-hyun for the third time and also struck out swinging, failing to capitalize on the opportunity. In the eighth inning, he came up to bat as the lead-off hitter but was caught with a fly ball to center field, ending the game. Doosan lost 2-5, suffering a two-game losing streak to begin the season.
Cave has a career batting average of .236 over 523 Major League games (1,429 at-bats, 337 hits) with 45 home runs, 176 RBIs, 190 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases, with an OPS of .692. Last season, he recorded a batting average of .251 over 123 games with the Colorado Rockies (323 at-bats, 81 hits), 7 home runs, 37 RBIs, 42 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases with an OPS of .686. Given that he played many games in the Major League until the previous season, it surprised many when they heard the news that Cave signed with Doosan.
Cave, who came to South Korea with high expectations, recorded a batting average of .240 over 9 exhibition games (25 at-bats, 6 hits), with 1 RBI and 4 runs scored, which was somewhat disappointing. Since the start of the regular season, Cave's performance has not significantly changed. He finished the opening game with four at-bats, no hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts, and he also remained silent with no hits in this game. He has gone hitless in his first 9 at-bats, including 8 consecutive at-bats without a hit.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yup stated in an interview before the game, "Since he is a player we expect a lot from, we have no intention of making changes. We can only wait for Cave to return to the level he was at when he played well in the Major League." He also noted, "I think it might just be a matter of paper-thin margins. If he feels it himself, he will improve. I am not worried at all," showing his trust in Cave.
Doosan faced a significant setback even before the season opener as starting pitcher Kwak Bin and relief pitcher Hong Geon-hee were sidelined due to injuries. In this game, Yang Eui-ji was replaced after being hit on the left big toe by a foul ball. Starting the season under such injury concerns, Doosan desperately needs contributions from foreign players. Losing both games in the season opener in which Cole Irvin and Jack Logue appeared is a bitter blow. Additionally, Cave's struggles have only amplified the disappointment of the two-game losing streak to start the season. It remains to be seen whether Cave can shake off his current struggles and deliver performances worthy of his reputation throughout the remainder of the season.
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