What a twist of fate this is. A rookie who used to follow his role model, Kim Kwang-hyun, during the SSG Landers days now meets him as an enemy after a trade. This isn't just a matter of glancing at each other from their respective dugouts. Ironically, a fateful starting matchup has come to fruition.
The Korea Professional Baseball KT Wiz and SSG Landers are preparing for their third encounter of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League season on the 22nd at Suwon KT Wiz Park. This is the first game of a midweek three-game series.
After finishing the weekend series against the Kiwoom Heroes with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, KT stands at 12 wins, 1 tie, and 10 losses in third place, while SSG, who suffered 1 win and 2 losses at home to the LG Twins, is in seventh place with 10 wins and 11 losses. The teams are separated by 1.5 games. During the series from the 4th to the 6th, one game was canceled due to rain, but SSG managed to win both games.
On the day before the game, KT announced Oh Won-seok as their starting pitcher, while SSG announced Kim Kwang-hyun. This will be a matchup between the second Kim Kwang-hyun and Kim Kwang-hyun himself. Prior to the series, interest was piqued by a surprise trade derby, and an intriguing starting matchup has also been established.
KT executed a 1-for-1 trade last October, sending right-handed fireballer Kim Min to SSG in exchange for left-handed pitcher Oh Won-seok. SSG, wanting Kim Min, proposed the trade first, and KT identified Oh Won-seok as a counterbalance, leading to a swap of top draft picks. Kim Min was selected in the first round in 2018, while Oh Won-seok was chosen in 2020.
Oh Won-seok, who graduated from Yatap High School and was selected first overall in the 2020 Rookie Draft by the SK Wyverns (now SSG), is often called the second Kim Kwang-hyun. He pitched 110 innings in the 2021 season, 144 innings in the 2022 season, 144⅔ innings in the 2023 season, and 121⅔ innings in the 2024 season. Out of 129 games in the first team, 98 were as a starter. Although his control has been noted as a weakness, he joined the KT Lee Kang-cheol team with a promising future ahead.
Under the guidance of 'pitching guru' Lee Kang-cheol, Oh Won-seok has had a solid start with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss and an earned run average of 3.38 over four games. In his recent outing on the 16th against the KIA Tigers, he pitched six innings, allowing just one hit, three walks, and striking out six with no earned runs, earning the victory. He heads into this matchup against his former team with strong momentum from back-to-back quality starts.
In contrast, SSG ace Kim Kwang-hyun has recorded 1 win and 2 losses with an earned run average of 3.38 over five games. In his recent outing on the 16th against the Hanwha Eagles, he struggled with five earned runs, allowing seven hits (including two home runs), one walk, and striking out four over five innings.
Against KT, he remembers only allowing one earned run over five innings with no decision on April 4 in Incheon. Last year, he also showed strength against KT with a record of 1 win and 1 loss and an earned run average of 2.82 over four games.
After finishing the KIA game on the 16th, Oh Won-seok noted, "(Kim Kwang-hyun) is someone I idolize. If we were on the same team, I wouldn't have been able to meet him. Now that we're both pitching on the same day, I know we'll meet on that day (22nd). Since we're meeting, I will definitely try to win."
Meanwhile, along with Oh Won-seok, Kim Min is also contributing as a key part of SSG's strong bullpen, showcasing the effects of the trade. He has appeared in 12 games with 4 holds and an earned run average of 2.89.
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