As the 2024 KBO season progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the past day in Korea’s highest level of professional baseball.
Eric Lauer Shuts Out the Giants
On a day when only six teams were in action due to a rainout between the Kiwoom Heroes and LG Twins, Eric Lauer turned in what was easily the best performance of the night. The Kia Tigers left-hander shut out the Lotte Giants for six strong innings, allowing just one hit and striking out nine in a 10-0 victory.
The six-inning masterpiece was Lauer’s best performance of the season, as he had posted a 6.20 ERA through his first five KBO starts. The 29-year-old is just two seasons removed from posting a 3.69 ERA over 29 starts with the Milwaukee Brewers.
KIA's Eric Lauer pitched 6 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit while striking out 9 to lead the Tigers to the 10-0 win over Lotte https://t.co/wh03PEMeB3
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) September 12, 2024
Mel Rojas Jr. Big Night
KT Wiz right fielder Mel Rojas Jr. put on a show in a 10-4 victory over the NC Dinos. The switch-hitter blasted two home runs and drove in five runs, four of which came on a sixth-inning grand slam that put the game out of reach.
ㅅㅂ 로하스 만루홈런 !!!!!! 오늘 멀티홈런 !!!! pic.twitter.com/hmxUq0cNh9
— ???? (@wizyagu) September 12, 2024
Rojas Jr. is putting an exclamation mark on a fantastic season, as he now ranks in the top five in the KBO in batting average (.334), home runs (32), and RBI (109). The 34-year-old returned to the KBO this season after playing in Mexico, Japan, and the Dominican Winter League the last two seasons. In his five seasons in the KBO, Rojas Jr. has hit 162 home runs and driven in 513 runs.
Hanwha Eagles Set Attendance Record
Despite a 7-1 loss to the Samsung Lions, the Hanwha Eagles still managed to make some headlines. The announced attendance of 11,719 moved their single-season total to 745,797, passing the 734,110 mark in 2018 as the highest mark in franchise history. The Eagles will have five more home games left this season to try and pass 800,000 total spectators in 2024.
KBO Standings as of Thursday, September 12
- KIA Tigers (81-50-2)
- Samsung Lions (75-57-2)
- LG Twins (68-62-2)
- KT Wiz (67-65-2)
- Doosan Bears(65-66-2)
- SSG Landers(62-68-2)
- Lotte Giants (59-67-4)
- Hanwha Eagles(60-69-4)
- NC Dinos (58-71-2)
- Kiwoom Heroes (56-76-0)
Watch KBO games using the global streaming platform SOOP.
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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Pitcher An Woo-Jin #41 of the Kiwoom Heroes throws in the top of the first inning during the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
