Park Jae-hyun, 19, Hits 17th Homer of Season as Go-Ahead Blast Lifts KIA Past SSG 5-2 in Comeback, Snapping 3-Game Losing Streak
On September 11 in Gwangju, KIA came back to beat SSG 5-2 on Park Jae-hyun's go-ahead solo homer, his 17th of the season. The second-year outfielder who filled in for the absent Kim Do-yeong is 19 years old by international age.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Summary in Three Lines
- Park Jae-hyun hit his 17th solo homer of the season with two outs in the bottom of the 5th, and KIA beat SSG 5-2 in a comeback to snap a 3-game losing streak
- Park Jae-hyun was born on December 8, 2006, and is 19 by international age; his 2026 salary is 50 million won and his signing bonus was 100 million won
- Yang Hyeon-jong allowed 2 runs, both unearned, over 5⅓ innings, earning his 11th win of the season and the 197th of his career
50 million won. That is this year's salary for the player who delivered the go-ahead hit at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on September 11, 2026. According to KBO official player records, that amount is 1/5 of teammate Kim Do-yeong's 250 million won. That player stepped into Kim Do-yeong's No. 3 spot in the lineup that day and turned the game around. Park Jae-hyun is 19 by international age.
From Kim Do-yeong's Exit on September 9 to Park Jae-hyun's Go-Ahead Homer on the 11th: A 3-Day Record
It began on September 9. According to Yonhap News, Kim Do-yeong was hit in the face by a bunted ball in that day's game against NC and underwent surgery for a fractured fibula. The batter who had been leading the league with 40 home runs this season was sidelined, and KIA slid into a 3-game losing streak in the meantime. He was discharged on the 11th but did not play that day.
Park Jae-hyun was the one who filled the vacant No. 3 spot. With two outs in the bottom of the 5th and the score tied 2-2, according to Sports Kyunghyang, Park Jae-hyun hit a solo homer to right field off SSG's Park Si-hu. That one run became the winning run. After the game, Park Jae-hyun said, "I feel at ease now," and added, "Batting third is fun."
On the mound, Yang Hyeon-jong held firm. According to MyDaily, Yang Hyeon-jong earned his 11th win of the season, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs, both unearned, with 7 strikeouts over 5⅓ innings. That is 197 career wins, 3 short of 200. The 38-year-old left-hander, whose 2026 salary is 800 million won, re-signed as a free agent last December on a 2+1-year deal worth 4.5 billion won in total. KIA won 5-2 to snap its 3-game losing streak.
Park Jae-hyun Profile: Age 19, Salary 50 Million Won
According to official KBO player records, Park Jae-hyun was born on December 8, 2006, and as of September 12, 2026, he is 19 years old by international age. Some articles list him as 20, but his international age is 19. A graduate of Dongmak Elementary, Jaeneung Middle and Incheon High, he was picked by KIA in the 3rd round, 25th overall, in the 2025 rookie draft. He is an outfielder who throws right-handed and bats left-handed, 180cm and 73kg.
The leap in his second year is remarkable. In his debut season of 2025, his batting average was 0.081. As of September 12 by official KBO figures, he has played 118 games with a batting average of 0.290, 133 hits and an OPS of 0.798. His batting average has risen by 0.209 in a single year. On July 21 against Hanwha, he reached his first career 10-homer, 10-steal season, and he also made the final roster for the Asian Games baseball national team.
His salary is still in the lower-middle range on the team. His 2026 salary in KBO records is 50 million won, and his signing bonus was 100 million won. Compared with his salary of 30 million won when he joined in 2025 (per a Segye Ilbo report), that is an increase of about 67% in a single year. In Infogoodman's ranking of KIA position players' salaries compiled on January 17, 2026, he is 13th, 200 million won behind the joint leaders Kim Do-yeong and Kim Ho-ryeong. The go-ahead homer was hit by the player ranked 13th in salary, from the No. 1 player's spot in the lineup.
| Rank | Player | Position | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kim Do-yeong | Infielder | 250 million won |
| 1 | Kim Ho-ryeong | Outfielder | 250 million won |
| 3 | Oh Seon-woo | Infielder | 120 million won |
| 4 | Han Jun-su | Catcher | 100 million won |
| 5 | Ko Jong-wook | Outfielder | 100 million won |
| 13 | Park Jae-hyun | Outfielder | 50 million won |
3 Homers Away From 20-20, KIA 0.5 Games Behind Third Place
Two numbers remain. OSEN reported that with the go-ahead homer, Park Jae-hyun's season home run total reached 17 and his stolen bases reached 19. He is now 3 home runs and 1 stolen base away from a 20-homer, 20-steal season. However, the KBO official records page lists his home runs as 16, so it appears the update has been delayed.
The team standings are also at stake. According to Yonhap News, KIA stands 4th after the game on the 11th at 67 wins, 55 losses and 2 draws, with a winning percentage of 0.549. It is 0.5 games behind 3rd-place LG (68 wins, 55 losses, 1 draw) and has some breathing room over 5th-place Doosan (63 wins, 59 losses, 4 draws). The club has not said whether Park Jae-hyun's use in the No. 3 spot is a one-off or the solution until Kim Do-yeong returns.
Kim Do-yeong will be examined in Gwangju on the 12th, after which a decision will be made on whether he plays in the game against Hanwha on the 13th. The club had said earlier, "We plan to judge the timing of his return after observing his recovery." According to a Newsis report, whether he joins the Asian Games also depends on the judgment of the medical staff and the KBO national team strengthening committee. Park Jae-hyun's pursuit of a 20-homer, 20-steal season and the battle with LG for 3rd place will continue through the remaining games.
Related Official Sites
- KBO Official Website — Check the original schedule, standings and records
- KBO Park Jae-hyun Player Records — Official page for his profile and cumulative season stats
- KIA Tigers Official Website — Home game tickets and club announcements
- KIA Tigers Official KakaoTalk Channel — Real-time updates on lineups and injury news
Featured image · Photo = Pexels (Ayyeee Ayyeee)
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