It was a performance that was no different from the main character of the opening two consecutive games.

Kiwoom Heroes Lee Hyung-jong (34) started 안전놀이터as the 5th hitter and right fielder in the home game against the Hanwha Eagles in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 2nd, and made a big success with 4 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 run in 5 at bats, leading the team to 7-7. 6 led to victory.

Lee Hyeong-jong changed into a Kiwoom uniform through a free agent (FA) contract with the Futures (second team) ahead of this season. Kiwoom, who was passive in recruiting external resources, gave him favorable conditions of 2 billion won in 4 years. The futures free agent contract of a player who will be 34 years old, and furthermore, because Kiwoom conducted it, great attention was paid.

There were considerable concerns, but Lee Hyung-jong proved his worth by striking a blow in the opening two matches on the 1st and 2nd. In the opening game on the 1st, he gave the team the first win of the season with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning, and on the 2nd, he boasted a hot hitting feeling with 4 hits.

Hyung-jong Lee spewed fire from his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning on the 2nd. In the bottom of the first inning, with a lead of 2-1, Hanwha starting pitcher Kim Min-woo’s 3rd fastball hit the 3rd fastball at a chance for 1st out and 2nd base, and he hit the wall in the middle of Gocheok Dome with a huge 1st run and 2nd base.

Hyung-Jong Lee, who was withdrawn at the end of the 3rd inning, showed tremendous power by producing hits in every at-bat. The nutritional value was also perfect. He appeared as the lead batter in the bottom of the 6th inning, with the score tied at 3-3, and this time he hit a double that hit the left wall of the Gocheok Dome directly. After making a three-hit game with an infield hit in the bottom of the 7th inning, he also picked up a hit to the left in the bottom of the ninth. It is his record for most hits and tying in one game. The previous four-hit game was against the Lotte Giants on May 29, 2018, when he belonged to the LG Twins.

Kiwoom, with Lee Hyeong-jong’s 4 hits, won the final victory on the 2nd following the opening game on the 1st. At the end of the 9th inning, when the score was tied 6-6, following consecutive hits by Edison Russell and Hyung-Jong Lee, Song Seong-Moon walked to secure a chance with a full base.

This is the third time in the history of the KBO League that one team has won the game in the opening two games. Lotte on March 30-31, 2013, and LG on April 1-2, 2016, smiled wide with victory over two consecutive days after the opening. Coincidentally, it was Hanwha who lost both of these two times.