The Japanese media reexamined the Hanshin Tigers days of Oh Seung-hwan (41), the Samsung Lions’ ‘final king’ who set a record of 400 saves.
In the final match of the season against SSG Landers in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 14th, Seung-Hwan Oh took responsibility for four outs and secured the team’s 5-3 victory.
Samsung, ahead 4-3, left one out in the top of the 8th inning and brought up closing pitcher Oh Seung-hwan. Oh Seung-hwan, who came to the mound with 2 outs and runners on second base, faced Shin-soo Choo as a pinch hitter. He threw a fastball on the 6th pitch and grounded Choo Shin-soo in front of the first baseman.
Oh Seung-hwan, who was on the mound in the top of the 9th inning when Lee Seong-gyu’s timely hit in the bottom of the 8th led to a 2-run lead, gave up a walk to the first batter, Oh Tae-gon. He then treated Jihoon Choi with a fly ball to third base and walked Hanyu Island, making it 1st and 2nd bases with one out. Oh Seung-hwan treated Heredia with a fly ball to right field and Park Seong-han with a fly ball to left field.
Oh Seung-hwan reached the unprecedented 400 save mark, and Samsung also succeeded in escaping its third consecutive loss.
Starting with achieving 100 saves in the fewest games and shortest period of time in 2007, the third year of his joining, he achieved 150 saves and 200 saves in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The 200 saves achieved in 334 games was a world record for the fewest games.
He recorded 250 saves, 300 saves, and 350 saves for the first time in the KBO League. Although there were gaps during the Japanese professional baseball and American League, no one has been able to surpass Oh Seung-hwan’s record. Last June, he set a meaningful record of 500 saves combined in Korea, the United States, and Japan.먹튀검증
Oh Seung-hwan, who won the save title four times in 2007 (40 saves), 2008 (39 saves), 2011 (47 saves), and 2012 (37 saves), also conquered the Japanese stage.
Oh Seung-hwan wore the Hanshin Tigers uniform and recorded 2 wins, 4 losses, 39 saves, 5 holds, and an ERA of 1.76 in 64 games in 2014, winning the title of relief king. He also set the record for the most saves in the debut season of a foreign pitcher in NPB history.
In the Central League Climax Series that year, he led the team to the Japan Series with 6 games, 8⅓ innings, 2 runs, 4 saves, and 1 hold. Seung-Hwan Oh was selected as the Climax Series MVP. In 2015, he continued his performance with 63 games, 2 wins, 3 losses, 41 saves, and an ERA of 2.73, winning the save title for two consecutive seasons.
Seung-hwan Oh will wear the St. Louis Cardinals uniform after finishing his two-year stay at NPB. Although it was not long, ‘Baseball Channel’ mentioned Oh Seung-hwan while looking back on the history of the NPB Postseason Climax Series that started in 2007.
The media said, “Seunghwan Oh struck out one slugger after another with a fastball called a ‘rock fastball.’ He finished the 2014 season at Hanshin and won the save title with overwhelming results. He became MVP thanks to his outstanding performance in the 2014 Season Climax Series. “He won the save title for two consecutive seasons with 41 saves in the 2015 season and then advanced to the major leagues the following year,” he said.
He also expressed surprise by saying, “This year, I achieved 500 saves in Korea, the United States and Japan,” and “I am still active as an active player.”
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