Seo Jin-yong (30, SSG Landers) did not commit a single blown save (save failure) and stepped on the 30 save hill.
Although sometimes tense, Seo Jin-yong, who kept his team victorious 100%, challenges the ‘No Blond Save King’ title, which even Oh Seung-hwan (41, Samsung Lions), who represents Korean baseball, could not achieve.
Seo Jin-yong kept his team victorious in all 30 save opportunities this season until the 7th.
His record this season is 1 win, 1 loss, 30 saves, and an average ERA of 1.42.
On July 28, in a home game against the Incheon Hanwha Eagles, he pitched in the 9th inning against 3-3 and allowed the winning run to stop the ‘undefeated march’, but at that time it was not a save situation.
Seo Jin-yong is the first to step on the ’30 saves without a blown save’ since 2006, when the KBO officially started counting blown saves.
The previous record was held by Go Woo-seok (LG Twins). Ko Woo-seok made 27 saves without a blown save last year, and left a blown save against kt wiz in Jamsil on July 30th.
Seo Jin-yong preoccupied 30 saves, far exceeding Go Woo-seok’s record.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyeong said, “Seo Jin-yong’s achievement of 30 saves is not luck, but skill.” said.
Coach Kim also mentioned Seo Jin-yong as the team’s best player at the end of the first half.
Seo Jin-yong’s WHIP per inning is 1.53, which is higher than his ERA (1.43). It is very unusual for a WHIP to be higher than an ERA.
kt closer Kim Jae-yoon (19 saves) has a WHIP of 0.99 and an ERA of 1.51. Hong Geon-hee (22 saves, Doosan Bears), who is second in salvation, also has a WHIP (1.34) lower than the average ERA (2.20).
Seo Jin-yong allowed on base more often than other closers, but his runs were kept in check.
His on-base percentage without runners is too high at 0.443, but with runners on base it drops to 0.313. The batting average is also different when there is a runner (0.323) and when there is no runner (0.181).
Also, Seo Jin-yong rarely gives up long hits. Seo Jin-yong gave up only one home run in 44⅓ innings.
His slugging percentage is very good at 0.289.
Seo Jin-yong, who preoccupied 30 saves with an ‘unusual record’, is now challenging Jae-hoon Ha’s 36 saves in 2019 and the SSG club’s most saves in a season and the KBO League’s first ‘Noblon Salvation King’.꽁머니
Only one Jo Sang-woo (Kiwoom Heroes), who recorded 15 saves in 2021, finished the season without committing a blown save while recording double-digit saves after the KBO’s official tally of blown saves.
Oh Seung-hwan left a blown save once in 2011 (47 saves), 2012 (37 saves), and 2021 (44 saves) to become the king of salvation.
Last year, Ko Woo-seok blew two save opportunities while posting 42 saves.
Seo Jin-yong said through the club, “I have been running so far without being aware of the 30 save preemption.”
“I brought myself into many crises, but the fact that I confidently played against batters without thinking back was the driving force behind achieving 30 saves,” he said. I want to break the team record for the most saves and win the title of No. 1 in saves in the league.”