[MyDaily = Jinseong Kim] “Compared with 2021, you could say it’s similar. But it also feels different.”
The KT Wiz have proven sturdier than many expected. Through May 3 they sit atop the league at 21–10. Historically slow out of the gate, they’ve been collecting wins steadily since Opening Day. Manager Lee Kang-cheol replayed the recent loss in Gwangju against the KIA Tigers and expressed some disappointment, but his overall demeanor remained calm.
KT stumbled to sixth last season and missed the postseason, but the core is intact. Manager Lee credits the additions of Kim Hyun-soo and Choi Won-jun with tightening the lineup. Even with Kang Baek-ho now with the Hanwha Eagles, KT leads the league with a .276 team batting average and 169 RBIs. They rank second in slugging (.402), third in on-base percentage (.364) and fourth in batting average with runners in scoring position (.296) this season.
The 1–5 hitters — Kim Min-hyuk, Choi Won-jun, Kim Hyun-soo, Jang Sung-woo and Sam Hilliard — give KT a reliable top of the order. They don’t have a single pure power bat, but they’re strong at stringing hits together and closing rallies. Add Ahn Hyun-min and that group could be the league’s most balanced and dangerous lineup. Lee says assembling the top of the order hasn’t been a problem. Injured players such as Heo Kyung-min, Oh Yoon-seok and Ryu Hyun-in are expected back this month.
That depth means if the regulars cool off, returning players can slot in and cover the gaps. The rotation — Matt Sauer, Caleb Boshly, Go Young-pyo, So Hyung-jun and Oh Won-seok — looks like one of the league’s best. Even amid widespread bullpen instability, KT has a dependable closer in Park Young-hyun.
After the May 1 game in Gwangju, Go Young-pyo said, “The lineup has changed a lot. Kyung-min, Hyun-min and Hyun-in are out with injuries, but the lineup feels new. The mix of veterans and newcomers is working. With Hyun-soo and Won-jun here, the top of the order balances nicely.”
He added, “Our offensive numbers have jumped, so if the pitchers perform around last year’s averages, that should be enough. Our pitching has been fairly consistent. What’s different from last year is the lineup’s energy.”
Go also pointed to rookie Lee Kang-min settling in at shortstop as a big factor. “With our hitting and pitching both strong, I think we were able to reach 20 wins early,” he said. In fact, this season’s start has outpaced their 2021 title campaign.
Go noted that while this year’s team resembles the 2021 club in some ways, it also feels different because the roster has changed significantly. “You could say they’re similar, but the feel is different,” he said. “Offense across the league is much stronger now — every club hits better than in 2021; there aren’t any weak offenses.”
Ultimately, Go emphasized, it comes down to the pitchers stepping up. He expects the offense to get a clear boost once injured players return this month. Still, Manager Lee is focused on the immediate task: this week KT will face the Nos. 1–3 starters from both the Lotte Giants and the Kiwoom Heroes, and he’s zeroed in on getting the next win.
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