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Kiwoom Heroes cut players in team overhaul
🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

Kiwoom Heroes cut players in team overhaul

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The Kiwoom Heroes baseball team has released several players as part of a team restructuring.
  • Pitchers Yang Ji-yul and Kim Jun-hyung, along with catcher Park Jun-hyung, had their developmental player registrations canceled.
  • The released players had limited first-team experience and performance records.

The Kiwoom Heroes professional baseball team has initiated a player clear-out to reorganize its roster. The team officially requested the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to cancel the developmental player registrations for pitchers Yang Ji-yul and Kim Jun-hyung, and catcher Park Jun-hyung.

Yang Ji-yul was drafted by the Nexen Heroes in the second round of the 2017 rookie draft and debuted in the first team in 2019. His career first-team record includes 68 appearances with no wins, 5 losses, and a 6.68 ERA. This season, he pitched one inning and allowed one run in a Futures League game on March 28 against the SSG Landers.

Kim Jun-hyung appeared in 34 first-team games between the 2021 and 2023 seasons, recording a 3.57 ERA. He did not play in any Futures League games in 2025 or 2026. Catcher Park Jun-hyung recorded a batting average of .053 with one hit in 19 at-bats over 11 Futures League games this year. The team's decision reflects a move to streamline its player pool and potentially make way for new talent.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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