A fireballer who was signed for the hefty sum of 1.5 billion won has seen his fastball velocity fall to 141 km/h. What happened to the sure-fire reliever for the Tokyo Olympics?
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho met with reporters on the 23rd at Suwon KT Wiz Park after the team's third game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season against the KT Wiz and diagnosed the causes of the slump of setup man Jo Sang-woo, who remained with the team through free agency.
This season one of the pillars of KIA's winning formula, Jo Sang-woo, collapsed in the Suwon game against the KT on the 22nd, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs (one earned) without recording an out. Entering in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded in a 3-3 tie, he allowed a two-run go-ahead hit on the first pitch to rookie Lee Gang-min, then gave up an RBI single to Choi Won-joon and handed the baton to Han Jae-seung.
Jo Sang-woo, whose strength is a heavy four-seam fastball exceeding 150 km/h, saw his fastball velocity remain in the low 140 km/h range that day. The first-pitch fastball to Choi Won-joon registered only 141 km/h, drawing worried looks.
It's not the only issue. Starting with 1 2/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 strikeout and 1 run (unearned) against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil on the 17th, then 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout and 1 run against KT on the 21st, and including the game on the 22nd, he has yielded runs in three consecutive games, driving his ERA from 2.08 to 3.72.
The manager pointed to physical overload as the cause of Jo Sang-woo's slump. Lee Beom-ho sighed deeply and said, "Too much burden falls on the bullpen pitchers. We need a starter who can go six to seven innings, but starters keep pitching only five innings, so the bullpen becomes overloaded. Also, because games themselves are tight, fatigue increases. We need a pitcher who can go six to seven innings. I'm worried the bullpen pitchers will lose confidence."
In particular, because Jo Sang-woo is often entrusted with high-pressure situations, he is said to be having some psychological difficulty as well. Lee Beom-ho said, "Jo Sang-woo keeps being brought into very difficult situations. That has caused psychological ups and downs," and added, "When his velocity is good, his fastball can reach 147–148 km/h, and when it's not good it's around 144–145 km/h, but recently it seems he has had difficulty getting it out there."
Still, overcoming that is the fate of a setup man. Veterans with Jo Sang-woo's experience must minimize slump periods and contribute to the team. Lee Beom-ho said, "Jo Sang-woo is a player who has to perform, but he too may face difficult times," and added, "Through 20 games there have been many even matchups. I'm worried because our bullpen pitchers seem mentally strained, but they are players with strong mental makeup, so I believe they will overcome it," wishing for a rebound.
Selected first overall in the first round of the 2013 rookie draft by Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom Heroes), Jo Sang-woo became a KIA man in a December 2024 trade. After going 6-6 with 1 hold, 28 holds and a 3.90 ERA in 72 games last year, he exercised his free agent rights in the offseason and on Jan. 2 signed a two-year, 1.5 billion won free agent contract with his original team, KIA. Jo Sang-woo's record this year is 10 games, 1-1, 2 holds and a 3.72 ERA.
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