KT Wiz Breaks Free from Last Place: Key Highlights from the 2026 KBO Preseason Match

Ko Young-pyo / Photo=DB

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seoyoung] KT Wiz climbed out of last place after a 4-1 exhibition win over the Kiwoom Heroes.

KT defeated Kiwoom 4-1 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League exhibition game at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 20th.

The victory moved KT off the bottom of the standings in exhibition play, improving to 2-2-4 and leapfrogging Kiwoom (2-1-5).

Starter Ko Young-pyo earned the win, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out four.

Offensively, Hilliard put KT on the board with an immediate leadoff solo homer, and Han Seung-taek helped extend the lead with a 1-for-2 performance that included two RBIs.

Kiwoom starter Jeong Hyun-woo took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits (one home run) with two walks and four strikeouts over four innings.

KT set the tone with the long ball. In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Hilliard launched Jeong’s first pitch — a 147 km/h fastball — over the center-right wall for a leadoff solo shot.

Kiwoom squandered a scoring chance in the second. In the top of the inning, leadoff man Choi Joo-hwan ripped a double to left and advanced to third on Park Chan-hyuk’s infield grounder. Park Joo-hong’s subsequent hit was snared by third baseman Heo Kyung-min, and Choi was forced out at third to end the frame scoreless.

KT kept the momentum in the fourth. With one out and nobody on, Ahn Hyun-min singled to left and Kim Sang-su drew a four-pitch walk to put runners in scoring position. Heo Kyung-min followed with an RBI single to left, bringing the runner from second home.

After Bae Jeong-dae popped out to center, Kwon Dong-jin — who started the at-bat on first — stole second to create a two-out, runners-on-2nd-and-3rd opportunity. Han Seung-taek then delivered a two-RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.

The game settled into a pitchers’ duel after that, with Kiwoom’s bats silent through eight innings until a late rally in the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, with one out, Ahn Chi-hong battled to a full count and drew a seven-pitch walk from Park Young-hyun. Lee Hyung-jong followed with a single to left to put runners at first and second. Yang Hyun-jong struck out, but Park Soo-jong ripped an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Kiwoom’s comeback ended there. The next batter, Lim Ji-yeol, flew out to left on the first pitch, and KT closed out a 4-1 victory.

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seoyoung sports@stoo.com]
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