Jin-yong Seo (31, SSG Landers), the strongest finisher in the KBO League in the 2023 season, challenges the club’s first record. Writing a new history without a blown save, he is cruising toward the team’s most saves.
Seo Jin-yong took the mound in the bottom of the 10th inning with a 9-6 lead against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 5th, and made his 30th save of the season with no runs in one inning.
He was the first league closer to hit the 30-save mark, and it’s surprising that he didn’t even have a single blown save. Seo Jin-yong is the only pitcher to have made 30 saves without a blown save in 18 seasons since 2006, when blown saves were first counted.꽁머니지급
Seo Jin-yong, who confirmed his potential by posting 21 saves last season when he began to take on the role of closer, took on the role of closer from the opening of this year and guarded the back door.
Seo Jin-yong’s pace was amazing. He continued to hold the unsealed record for 20 games after opening, before recording his first earned run of the season on May 21 against the Lotte Giants.
In June, the average ERA rose to 2.79 and was shaken for a while, but immediately found stability, and again showed off the grandeur of the best finish in the league. He made 30 saves in his 91st and 43rd personal appearance for the team.
This is the smallest game record throughout the SSG and predecessor SK days. He has written a new page in the history of the club, surpassing Jae-Hoon Ha (117 team matches, 51 individual matches), which holds the previous minimum game record.
Seo Jin-yong’s record-setting does not end here. The club’s all-time record for most saves in a season is also in sight.
Seo Jin-yong, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Cho Ung-cheon and Jung Woo-ram with 30 saves, now becomes the protagonist of a new record by adding 7 saves. The previous record holder was Ha Jae-hoon, who with 36 saves in 2019 became the ‘save king’ that year.
SSG still has more than 50 games left, so if there are no injuries, it is expected to write a new record without difficulty. Attention is focusing on how many saves Seo Jin-yong, who is aiming for the first save king in his debut as well as the club record, will be able to end the season.