SSG Landers’ Jo Byeong-hyun Shines in Final Preseason Game: What This Means for 2026 KBO Season

Jo Byung-hyun / Photo=DB

[Incheon=Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young] SSG Landers closer Jo Byung-hyun closed out the team’s 6-3 victory with a tidy ninth inning, preserving the win in the club’s final exhibition game before the season.

SSG defeated Lotte 6-3 on March 24 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon in the final exhibition matchup of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With the victory, SSG finished exhibition play 5-7.

SSG’s lineup featured Park Seong-han (SS) – Eredia (LF) – Choi Jeong (3B) – Kim Jae-hwan (DH) – Go Myung-jun (1B) – Choi Ji-hoon (CF) – Kim Sung-wook (RF) – Jo Hyung-woo (C) – Jung Joon-jae (2B).

Starter Veniziano delivered five innings, allowing three hits (one homer), one walk and one run while striking out seven to pick up the win. He threw 74 pitches: 22 fastballs, 16 sliders, 15 changeups, 14 sweepers and 7 two-seamers. His fastball peaked at 150 km/h (93 mph) and dipped to 145 km/h (90 mph).

No Kyung-eun and Jo Byung-hyun, SSG’s trusted late-inning relievers who had rested after the 2026 World Baseball Classic, both pitched as a final tune-up before the regular season.

Jo was a key bullpen arm for Korea at the WBC. He appeared in four games in relief, logging five innings with one hit allowed, one run and a 1.80 ERA. The only hit he surrendered was a solo homer to Yoshida Masataka in the second game of the first round against Japan.

He stood out in the winner-take-all first-round finale against Australia on March 9, coming on in the bottom of the eighth and throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts to help Korea to a 7-2 win and its first quarterfinal appearance in 17 years.

In the quarterfinals versus the powerhouse Dominican Republic, he made a statement by retiring the side on just 10 pitches in one inning.

Jo carried that strong form into exhibition play. Entering the top of the ninth with a 6-3 lead, he induced two flyouts from Son Seong-bin and Shin Yun-hoo and struck out Lee Seo-jun looking to retire the side in order and seal the win.

After the game, Jo said, “I came in to pitch alongside senior No Kyung-eun. I’m happy we won, and it’s even better to finish the exhibition schedule with a victory.”

“Pitching aggressively paid off,” he added. “I wanted to test the command of my breaking pitches. Now I just need my velocity to tick up. I’m feeling good and just waiting for the season to start.”

Making his first home appearance of the preseason, Jo said, “It finally felt like home. I was comfortable pitching in front of our fans. This year, I’ll do everything I can to help the Landers win a championship.”

He closed with a message to supporters: “The 2026 season is about to begin. Last year the fans’ support helped us achieve good results. If they cheer for us again this year, we’ll aim even higher.”

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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