Will Ko Hyo-joon (42), who suffered his fourth career release last year, be able to take the mound in the first division once again? Considering the recent performance of "old" bullpen pitchers in the KBO League, it is not impossible.토토사이트

It is the heyday of veteran bullpen pitchers. Last year, Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers) recorded 38 holds at the age of 40 to win the title of "highest hold king" in the KBO League. Released from the Lotte Giants at the age of 37 in the 2021 season, he entered his second heyday by wearing the SSG uniform through a try-out test at the end of his career.

Kim Jin-sung (LG Twins) and Kim Sang-soo (Lotte) were also notified of their release, but they found their team again and succeeded in reviving them. Kim Jin-sung, who was released by the NC Dinos at the end of the 2021 season, joined LG and recorded more than 20 holds (21-27 holds) for the second consecutive year. Likewise, Kim Sang-soo, who was notified of his release by SSG after the end of the 2021 season, is also playing a must-win role at Lotte. Jang Pil-joon, who was notified of his release by the Samsung Lions last year, joined Kiwoom and is preparing for the new season.

Meanwhile, Ko, who received a notice of release from SSG in October last year, is reportedly still eager to extend his career. Having started his professional career by being drafted by Lotte in the 2002 rookie draft, he has suffered four releases including last year (Lotte in 2002, 2020, LG in 2021, and SSG in 2024). His overall record is 47 wins, 54 losses, four saves, 56 holds, and an ERA of 5.27, in 601 games.

Up until the 2023 season, he played 58 innings in 73 games, and posted four wins, one loss and 13 holds, displaying stellar performance as a veteran. However, he suffered ups and downs as his ERA rose to 8.18 in the 2024 season, and ended the season by playing in only 26 games.

His performance is not unusual even if he retires right away, but he also had some positive aspects. Ko displayed a batting average of 0.310 against right-handed hitters and an OPS of 0.944 last year, while he displayed an OPS of 0.205 against left-handed hitters and an OPS of 0.666. He proved that he is still valuable as a point against left-handed hitters.

Securing a reliable left-hander bullpen is a task that some teams have yet to address. Notably, Samsung, which focused its efforts on reinforcing the back door last season, ranked eighth in the league with an ERA of 6.60. The team was also significantly different from the performance of the right-hander bullpen (4.69, ranking second in the league). KT Wiz (6.81, 9th) and Lotte (7.20, 10th) also revealed weaknesses in the same areas. The three teams showed no reinforcing of the left-hander bullpen during the off-season. Samsung even gave up left-hander Choi Chae-heung as a reward for Choi Won-tae, the FA.

The bullpen is one of the positions where there are many variables during the season. Even if he fails to find his team until the opening of the season, if he maintains his physical condition to join the first team, a club that will reach out to him during the season could appear at any time.