Before the season began, when Kim Gun-woo was named SSG’s No. 2 starter, reactions from those in the dugout were mixed with doubt. But now, as mid-May approaches, Kim has returned as more than just a promising prospect—he has become the league’s winningest pitcher, standing alone at the top.
The steadfast faith from manager Lee Soong-yong has paid off. Despite concerns from the coaching staff and front office, Lee early on designated Kim as the ideal candidate to fill the void left by Kim Kwang-hyun’s injury. That vote of confidence served as powerful motivation for the young pitcher, reinforcing the message that “the manager believes in me.” This synergy of trust, built from spring camp onward, has produced an astonishing record of 5 wins, no losses, and a 3.51 ERA.
Last postseason, Kim Gun-woo left a lasting impression by striking out six consecutive batters—a new record. This year, he has evolved even further. Instead of relying solely on his fastball, he now uses a variety of breaking pitches to get ahead in counts, just as Lee described. He has also developed a veteran’s poise, inducing double plays in crucial situations, and currently leads the team in innings pitched (40) and strikeouts (31).
Incheon baseball fans see shades of a young Kim Kwang-hyun in Kim Gun-woo. His dominant stuff, confident mound presence, and knack for snapping losing streaks when the team needs it most all mirror the former ace. If he stays healthy, Kim Gun-woo’s growth could well run parallel to SSG Landers’ championship aspirations.
Having planted the flag atop the 5-win plateau first, Kim Gun-woo now has the entire KBO’s attention fixed on the new ace of Incheon, waiting to see how far he can race this season.