"When I'm stressed, a lump appears on the back of my neck."
Kim Hyun-soo, a recent transfer to the professional baseball team KT Wiz, started as the No. 3 designated hitter in the third game of the season against the KIA Tigers in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 23rd, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run, leading the team to an 8-3 victory and the club's second series sweep of the season.
With two outs and no runners in the bottom of the first inning while trailing 0-2, Kim Hyun-soo hit a center-field single off KIA starter Lee Yi-ri and opened the curtain on the big inning. He then advanced past second to third on consecutive walks to Jang Seong-woo and Sam Hilliard and scored home on Oh Yun-seok's two-run game-tying RBI single.
After a foul pop by the third baseman in the bottom of the second and a flyout by the shortstop in the bottom of the fifth to catch his breath, Kim Hyun-soo came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and a runner on first while leading 6-3. Facing KIA's Choi Ji-min, he secured a favorable 2-1 count and attacked a fourth-pitch changeup, hitting a superb RBI double that slipped between the third baseman and third base. It was a blast that carried the momentum.
Kim Hyun-soo, who has recorded multi-hit games in three consecutive recent games, raised his season batting average from .308 to .316.
After the game, Kim Hyun-soo met with reporters and smiled, saying, "I tried to focus more in the batter's box. I haven't felt that my hitting has been particularly good lately, so I practiced to quickly get my timing back. I'm relieved the result was good; if it hadn't been, that would have been a big problem."
Last year, having won Korean Series MVP with the LG Twins, Kim Hyun-soo exercised his free agent rights in the stove league and, choosing not to stay with the team he had grown attached to, moved to KT on a three-year, 5 billion won deal (3 billion won signing bonus, 2 billion won total salary).
About a month into the season, KT's acquisition of Kim Hyun-soo is being judged a huge success. At 38, he is hitting over .300 and has a runners-in-scoring-position average of .345, and off the field he sets an example for younger players with his passion for baseball and exemplary work habits. True to his status as a living legend, he has shown leadership rarely seen at the youngest franchise KT and is leading the team in a run as the sole first-place club.
When asked his secret, Kim Hyun-soo laughed and replied, "I'm just grateful to be able to play in games now. Don't ask me about the secret to hitting well at this late age; you should ask (Choi) Hyung-woo."
Asked about the secret to the team's sole lead, he listed many factors. Kim Hyun-soo explained, "KT is really a good team. The players prepare very well and are well prepared. Because everyone is strongly determined to make up for last year's disappointing results, we are seeing good early-season results like this. But we're only about a month in. There are still five months left, so I hope the team's performance continues to be good in the second half."
As Kim Hyun-soo said, KT has ridden a frightening early surge despite the injury departures of Heo Kyung-min and Ahn Hyun-min, thanks to the performances of replacements. They extended their lead over second-place LG to 1.5 games. Kim Hyun-soo said, "Players like Oh Yun-seok and Lee Jung-hoon, who don't play every day, have prepared so thoroughly that they're filling the gaps left by injured players well. The same goes for Bae Jeong-dae. Seeing everyone give their best for the team, I think the preparation was that thorough."
He added, "I don't think this is just about hanging on. It can be a new opportunity for someone. Conversely, players sent to the second team became anxious. Sports can change in an instant. I also feel anxious and work out more. It's not a reversal of fortune; the backups trying to secure their places produced the good results we see now."
Thanks to manager Lee Kang-chul's thorough management, there is no burden regarding stamina. Kim Hyun-soo said, "I've endured so far on stamina alone. The manager has managed me well through the designated hitter system. There is no stamina problem," and added, "It's fortunate that there haven't been any major incidents at first base so far. One happened in Daejeon, but there hasn't been another since. (Kim) Sang-soo is next to me, and before his injury (Heo) Kyung-min was here too. There are many experienced infielders, so trusting them keeps accidents from happening."
However, the shocking contract guaranteeing the full 5 billion won is a burden. Although he seemed only happy with the luxury watch LG gifted him last year and the hefty salary offered by KT, Kim Hyun-soo is only human. He said, "Of course I feel the burden. As you can see here, a lump has appeared on the back of my neck. It comes from stress; I must have been struggling without realizing it," and added, "It's nothing to worry about. It appears and disappears, and if we win the championship it will all go away. Even when the season ends it disappears like a ghost."
Before the game, manager Lee Kang-chul welcomed Kim Hyun-soo's performance more than anyone, saying, "All the managers who worked with Kim Hyun-soo must have been pleased." Hearing that, Kim Hyun-soo said, "When I was young I learned a lot from good seniors. I thought a lot about how to behave and how to get younger players to follow me, but first I have to work hard so I have something to say," and added with a bright smile, "It's hard, but I guess I still enjoy baseball."
[OSEN]