The day after Kim Won-joong's blown save, Kim Tae-hyung handed the closer position to a 40,000 dollar pitcher

"Iimura is the closer going forward." Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said on August 26, 2026Sports Chosunin Sports Chosun. He also said, "There will be no return of Kim Won-joong to the closer position for the remainder of the season." Was it due to one game's poor performance, or was it already a late decision?

Kim Won-joong's blown save: 1-run lead collapsed with 2 outs and bases loaded in the 9th inning

August 25, 2026 at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. Lotte led 5-4, but with 2 outs and bases loaded in the 9th inning, pinch hitter Lee Ho-yeon hit a grand slam, and Lotte lost 5-8.Yonhapnewsand KBO records show the same scene. It was a game that would have ended with just one more out.

The rarity of this home run is described differently by different media outlets. Yonhapnews called it 'the 2nd pinch-hit go-ahead walk-off grand slam in KBO league history,' while NewSis wrote 'historic first' in the headline and 'historic 3rd' in the body text. Depending on how much you overlap categories—pinch hitter, go-ahead, 9th inning 2 outs, walk-off—the numbers diverge.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung's reason for the replacement: "The ball cannot beat the batter"

The manager's diagnosis was directed not at the result but at the ball itself.XSports NewsAccording to XSports News, Manager Kim said that Kim Won-joong's fastball and forkball velocity and control both declined, saying "the ball cannot beat the batter." The criteria for the new closer was not velocity either. "Iimura is the most stable."

Looking at the numbers, it was not a one-day decision. Kim Won-joong's 2026 season record is 48 games pitched, 1 win, 5 losses5 saves, 12 holds, ERA 5.09. The 12 holds are more than double the 5 saves. A pitcher who accumulated consecutive double-digit saves over 5 years starting with 25 saves in 2020, then 35, 17, 30, and 25 saves, has stopped at 5 saves.

Kim Won-joong's salary and 5.4 billion won FA: the contract that ranked 3rd in 2025 FA total value

In November 2024, Kim Won-joong and Lotte4-year, maximum 5.4 billion won(guaranteed 4.4 billion won, incentive 1 billion won) signed a contract to remain. His salary in the 2024 season before FA was 500 million won. Since the 2026 KBO registered player average salary is 175,360,000 won (as of March 18, 2026), the annual salary of 1,350,000,000 won derived from dividing the total by 4 years is approximately 7.7 times the average.

Rank	Player	4-year total (as of November 11, 2024)	Notes
1	Choi Jung	11 billion won	Remained with SSG, fully guaranteed
2	Um Sang-baek	7.8 billion won	KT → Hanwha, signing bonus 3.4 billion won
3	Kim Won-joong	5.4 billion won	Remained with Lotte, guaranteed 4.4 billion + option 1 billion
4	Jang Hyun-sik	5.2 billion won	KIA → LG, fully guaranteed
5	Shim Woo-june	5 billion won	KT → Hanwha, guaranteed 4.2 billion + option 800 million
6	Huh Kyung-min	4 billion won	Doosan → KT, includes option 600 million won

If you line up the same winter's FA market, his position becomes clear. According to Money Today's count, it ranks 3rd in total value. There's a 200 million won difference from 4th place Jang Hyun-sik, and 1st place Choi Jung's 11 billion won is more than double. Among pitchers, he's second after Um Sang-baek. He lost the closer position in the second season of that contract.

Iimura Shota: 40,000 dollar salary, Asia-quarter player who debuted in June takes the 9th inning

Iimura Shota (28) is a Japanese right-hander born in 1998 who came to Lotte as an Asia-quarter player on June 18, 2026, after playing in Taiwan's industrial league. He ranked 1st in Taiwan's spring league with an ERA of 0.93 over 29 innings. His contract is a total of 70,000 dollars, 2026salary 40,000 dollarswith signing bonus 10,000 dollars.

The first day of the replacement was cruel. Lotte lost to KIA 11-16 on August 26, falling into a three-game losing streak, and by KBO count, on the same day stood in 6th place with 112 games, 50 wins, 60 losses, 2 draws, winning percentage 0.455,9 games behind 5th place Doosan. Picto Sports AI estimated the probability of autumn baseball at 1.9%. The Iimura system is only based on the manager's statement; the actual position may vary depending on the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When did Kim Won-joong's blown save happen, and what was the situation?

It was the KIA game at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on August 25, 2026. Lotte led 5-4, and with 2 outs and bases loaded in the 9th inning, pinch hitter Lee Ho-yeon hit a grand slam, and Lotte lost 5-8.

Q. What are Kim Won-joong's salary and FA contract total?

He signed a 4-year, maximum 5.4 billion won contract with Lotte in November 2024 (guaranteed 4.4 billion won, incentive 1 billion won). His salary in the 2024 season before FA was 500 million won, and his individual salary for the 2026 season has not been confirmed by official announcement.

Q. Who is the new closer Iimura Shota?

A Japanese right-hander born in 1998 who signed with Lotte as an Asia-quarter player on June 18, 2026. He has a 2026 salary of 40,000 dollars and a signing bonus of 10,000 dollars, and he is a pitcher who ranked 1st in Taiwan's spring league with an ERA of 0.93 over 29 innings.

Related Official Sites

• KBO Official Homepage— confirm game results and player records
• KBO Team Standings Official Records— daily standings and game difference updates
• Lotte Giants Official Homepage— team announcements and roster notices
• KIA Tigers Official Homepage— news from opposing team for August 25-26 games

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