How can a 39-year-old play that kind of defence?
The ballpark went silent for a moment. Only exclamations of “Wow!” could be heard at the unbelievable defence.
On the 13th, Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul hosted a game between KT Wiz and Kiwoom Heroes in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’. With KT looking to break into the top four with a winning streak, and Kiwoom mired in a six-game losing streak with a slumping batting lineup, it was expected to be a fierce match with no concessions from either side.
바카라However, the game unexpectedly went one-sided. It was the defence of the veteran infielders that allowed KT to take the lead with ease. In particular, second baseman Park Kyung-soo surprised everyone with his jaw-dropping defence.
It all started in the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Kiwoom leadoff hitter Kim Jun-wan harassed KT’s Ko Young-pyo with a full count. He pulled a seven-pitch 137km fastball for a hard hit to first base, and KT first baseman Park Byung-ho made a throwing error. The ball hit Byung-ho Park’s left foot and rolled towards second base, and it looked like an easy out on a fielding error. But it wasn’t to be, as Park grabbed the ball and threw to first base. It was a close call, but this unselfish defence by the best player on the team was enough to keep the KT players focused and mentally strong.
The highlight came in the fourth inning. After giving up two runs in the top of the fourth inning, Kiwoom was down 0-4 and needed to turn things around. In the bottom of the fourth, Kim Jun-wan led off with a single to right, and the next batter, Kim Hye-sung, took the first pitch and lined it up for a single up the middle, but this time, Park Kyung-soo flew out. After flying to second base, Park bounced back from the fall and made a glove toss to second base to throw out Kim Jun-wan at first base. Although he didn’t catch the batter, the catch was a masterclass in defence.
Shortstop Kim Sang-soo, who caught the throw at second base, gave Park a thumbs-up and bowed his head at a 90-degree angle to pay tribute. Ko Young-pyo, who was watching the defence, was also amazed, clapping and saying ‘wow’ repeatedly. On the other hand, Kim Jun-wan, the first baseman, was stunned and bewildered, saying, “How could he do this?
In the end, Kiwoom lost all confidence in Park Kyung-soo’s constant hitting and fell to a 0-9 defeat, their seventh straight loss. KT, on the other hand, was able to comfortably win the last game of the first half as the younger players responded to the unyielding play of their 39-year-old veteran.
Meanwhile, KT has been boasting a solid infield defence this season after signing Kim Sang-soo as a free agent. The average age of the infielders, led by Park Byung-ho (37), Park Kyung-soo (39), Kim Sang-soo (33), and Hwang Jae-gyun (36), is 36.3 years old. Of these, Park is the oldest, at almost immortal age. Known for his defensive prowess from a young age, Park shows no signs of rust. His experience allows him to handle any situation with ease, and he leads KT’s unwavering infield.