Seo Geon-chang’s contact rate surges to 91%
Kiwoom Heroes’ Seo Geon-chang has reclaimed one of the league’s best strike-zone judgments this season, boosting his contact rate to 91.4%, up from the 70s and 80s he posted during his years with LG and KIA. As of August 31, he ranks 9th in the league in both batting average (.323) and on-base percentage (.409), and he led all hitters in hits in August with 29. Seo insists “nothing has changed,” but the data shows he is now selecting pitches inside the strike zone more decisively. The same day, Kiwoom sweetened his existing contract with a new incentive clause that could push its total value up to 1.2 billion won.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
Ko Woo-seok sent to minors, LG return in focus
The Minnesota Twins transferred pitcher Ko Woo-seok’s contract to their Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, on August 31 (KST). The move follows his DFA on August 29 after clearing waivers with no team claiming him. The timing is notable because LG Twins’ bullpen is in crisis, with key relievers Jang Hyun-sik and Kim Jin-sung both sidelined by injury and the unit posting a 7.06 ERA in August alone. Even if Ko returns to Korea this season, he would be ineligible for the postseason, but with LG locked in a tight playoff race, a potential comeback has drawn keen attention around the league.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
Lee Bum-ho’s leadership fuels KIA’s August surge
The KIA Tigers posted an 11-4 record (.733) in 15 games during August, the best monthly winning percentage among all 10 clubs. On August 23, KIA blew a seven-run lead against Kiwoom, losing on a walk-off grand slam, but manager Lee Bum-ho took the blame himself, saying “players should move on once the game is over.” KIA responded with three straight comeback wins over Lotte and SSG, climbing from fifth to third place by going 8-2 in their last ten games. After finishing eighth last season, KIA is now closing in on its first postseason berth in two years behind Lee’s steady leadership through adversity.
Source: Money Today
Choi Hyoung-woo, league’s oldest player, tops August RBIs
Samsung Lions veteran Choi Hyoung-woo, born in 1983, hit .313 with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs in 17 games during August, leading the league in monthly RBIs despite being its oldest active player. On August 26, he launched a grand slam off a rookie Kiwoom pitcher at Gocheok. It was an unusual August in which every league game was postponed once due to a heat wave, but veterans like Choi stood out amid the disruption. He edged out teammate Lewin Diaz for the RBI title and remains the anchor of Samsung’s lineup.
Source: Ilgan Sports
Yang Eui-ji passes 300 career home runs in August
Doosan Bears national-team catcher Yang Eui-ji, 39, hit 6 home runs in 16 games during August, tying KIA’s Kim Do-yeong and Lotte’s Han Dong-hee for the league’s monthly home run lead. Over the same span he also topped all Doosan position players in RBIs (17) and slugging percentage (.636). Most notably, he crossed the 300 career home run mark this month, a new milestone in his career. Still showing power in his late 30s, Yang remains a pillar of Doosan’s lineup.
Source: Ilgan Sports