Lotte Giants closer Kim Won-joong is faithfully playing the role given at the beginning of the season.

Kim Won-joong pitched in 11 games during the regular season and recorded eight saves and an ERA of 0.71 in 12 ⅔ innings. He is now tying for the lead in saves along with Park Young-hyun of the KT Wiz.

At a home game against the Hanwha Eagles of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Monday, he met the expectations of his team by allowing no hits, no walks, and no walks during the first ⅓. He pitched in relief with runners on the first and second bases with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, and managed four out-counts. By adding one save on the day, he became the 12th player in the KBO league to make 140 saves.메이저놀이터

Kim Won-joong met with reporters ahead of Game 4 of the season against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 25th and said, "Actually, I don't know how many saves I have made. After the game, I walked up to the mound with (Jung) Bo-geun, and he said, "Congratulations, brother." So I told him, "What's wrong?" and he asked me to look at the electronic display to find out. I always focused on each batter and found out the record a little late, but I think I'm a little proud."

"I haven't changed much (compared to last year). I think I have a lot of mental aspects. I think it helps me a lot to think about it more simply and take the mound," Kim Won-joong said. "He managed my body so well in the training part, and I think he is showing off my skills well in the ground."

The Lotte Giants, which tied for second overall, had 15 wins, one draw and 12 losses (0.556) through Saturday. Lotte is aiming to advance to the post season for the first time in eight years since 2017. "I think winning is the best, but I have the mindset that today's victory is the end so that I don't get caught in a victory. I come to the stadium thinking that I should do my best to win again today."

Kim Won-joong does not pay much attention to the fact that the ABS (automatic pitching determination system) was lowered this season. "I take the mound without thinking about ABS. I think that way, I will not be swayed by the decision whether the ball I threw becomes a strike or a ball," Kim said.

Kim Won-joong has been playing for a team for more than 10 years since joining Lotte in the fifth place in the first round in 2012. After the end of last season, he acquired the FA (free contract) qualification and signed a four-year contract with Lotte, the original team, for a total of 5.4 billion won (4.4 billion won in guaranteed amount and 1 billion won in incentives).

Now, it is safe to say that Kim Won-joong's path is Lotte's new history. "I think it is evidence that he has been in one team since he was young, and it is meaningful," Kim said. "I want to focus more on the game in the future."

If the current trend continues, Kim Won-joong would probably aim for the "save king" but stressed his team's victory over the individual title. "I don't think I have any greed (for a record) as it is early in the season. If I just go out one game and am at the top of the list after the season ends, I would think something different then," Kim said. "Now he tells me to focus on my team's victory rather than the number of saves and play. I think my best defense is all I can do."