A new chapter has been written in Korean baseball history. On July 26, 2025, at 6 PM at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park, KBO League's top left-handed aces Ryu Hyun-jin (38, Hanwha Eagles) and Kim Kwang-hyun (37, SSG Landers) finally faced each other in their first-ever starting pitcher duel.
Historic Moment: First-Ever Ryu Hyun-jin vs Kim Kwang-hyun Pitching Duel
17 Years of Disappointed Waiting
Ryu Hyun-jin, who debuted with Hanwha in 2006, and Kim Kwang-hyun, who started with SK Wyverns (SSG's predecessor) in 2007, have been the representative left-handed aces of the KBO League. However, they had never faced each other as starting pitchers in regular season games.
The most disappointing moment came on May 23, 2010. Both players were scheduled to start in a Hanwha-SK game in Daejeon, but rain canceled the game, leaving the two pitchers to shake hands and part ways without competing. The disappointment of baseball fans was indescribable.
Destiny That Never Met on World Stage
Ryu Hyun-jin (2013-2023) and Kim Kwang-hyun (2020-2021) both played in Major League Baseball, but even there, they never faced each other directly. Ryu played for the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, while Kim played for the St. Louis Cardinals, but their timing never aligned.
Their only meetings were at the 2010 All-Star Game and a 2011 spring training game. A starting pitcher duel in an official game remained only a dream for Korean baseball fans.
Rain Created This Miraculous Schedule
Ironically, it was rain that made this matchup possible. When SSG's games were canceled due to rain for two consecutive days on July 17-18, it caused changes in the rotation, ultimately aligning both players' pitching schedules for July 26.
SSG manager Lee Seung-yong said, 'We are aware that the two players could face each other on that date,' while Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon expressed his intention to maintain the rotation as planned.
Past Prime but Still Commanding
Ryu Hyun-jin is showing decent performance this season with a 3.15 ERA, while Kim Kwang-hyun continues to lead his team with veteran-like pitching. Although their peak firepower isn't what it used to be, the matchup itself carries historical significance for Korean baseball.
Ryu remained calm, saying, 'Regardless of who the opposing pitcher is, my job is to get the opposing batters out,' while Kim also maintained composure, stating, 'I'm facing batters anyway.'
A New Chapter in Korean Baseball History
This matchup goes beyond a simple game to become a historical event decorating a page in Korean baseball history. It represents the moment when two players who elevated Korea's baseball status by crossing between KBO League and Major League Baseball finally faced each other head-to-head.
Countless baseball fans who had been waiting for this day flocked to Daejeon Stadium, while fans nationwide watched this historic moment through TV and internet broadcasts.
A New Beginning Opens the Future
With this matchup finally realized, the possibility of additional encounters between the two players has opened up. Interest is already building around whether there might be another opportunity for them to face each other in the remaining schedule of this season.
The first meeting between these two legends, Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun, will be recorded as a memorable masterpiece in Korean baseball history. This moment, realized after 17 years of waiting, became an unforgettable gift for Korean baseball fans.
Original Korean Article: https://trendy.storydot.kr/sports/ryu-hyun-jin-kim-kwang-hyun-first-historic-pitching-duel-17-years-waiting
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