Struggling in the middle of the standings midway through last season, the KIA Tigers surprised the league by executing a three-for-three trade with the NC Dinos right after the All-Star break. The deal was even more notable because it involved quite prominent players.
KIA sent Choi Won-jun (now with KT), a former top hitting prospect who had become the team’s starting outfielder, along with Lee Woo-sung, a key starter in their 2024 championship run, and backup infielder Hong Jong-pyo to NC. In return, they acquired Han Jae-seung and Kim Si-hoon, hard-throwing right-handed bullpen arms they needed at the time, plus infield prospect Jung Hyun-chan.
Han and Kim were immediately added to the major league roster. Given the team’s collapsing bullpen, they were expected to provide valuable innings. Jung, more of a future asset compared to the other two, had received excellent reviews in the minors. However, last year, the trade didn’t yield the desired results. There was little to show on the report card. Looking solely at the previous season, it was close to a failure.
The two main bullpen chips underperformed expectations. Han Jae-seung pitched 15 1/3 innings over 18 games with a 10.57 ERA. Kim Si-hoon also struggled, posting a 7.45 ERA over 9 games before being sent down early. Jung Hyun-chan only saw late-season action as a test of his potential. With those poor performances, expectations for the trade’s impact plummeted. While the players sent away didn’t exactly shine, the lingering image was that of giving up championship-caliber contributors.
This year, however, the picture is different. The players acquired from NC are contributing meaningfully, boosting the team’s overall strength. There’s growing optimism that if these young players (mostly in their early to mid-20s, swapped for veterans in their late 20s and 30s) develop well, the trade could be viewed much more favorably in two or three years.
Han Jae-seung (25) has become a workhorse in the KIA bullpen this season. While not in the closer role, he handles various duties as a setup man. In 12 games, he’s pitched 12 innings with a solid 3.75 ERA, a significant improvement from last year. While a promotion to the closer role may be considered later, he’s securing a bullpen spot as a reliable setup man. When the team is trailing or needs to hold the line, manager Lee Bum-ho frequently turns to Han as a preferred option.
Han’s stuff has always been well-regarded. He possesses a fastball that regularly touches 150 km/h, coupled with excellent vertical movement on his pitches. His metrics in this area are comparable to the best in the KIA rotation. Last year, he self-destructed with 31 walks in 33 1/3 innings. But this season, he’s transformed. Over 12 innings, he’s allowed just two walks. He’s attacking the zone much more aggressively.
A setup man’s job is to maximize innings with minimal pitches, saving the bullpen. Han is showing that capability while dramatically improving his results. His velocity is also climbing, recently hitting 150 km/h. With improved command and increasing velocity, there’s positive talk that he could be headed for a career-best season.
Second-year infielder Jung Hyun-chan (20) hasn’t stood out offensively. In 30 games and 24 at-bats, he’s hitting just .136. However, his defense has been eye-catching. He handles both shortstop and second base with skill. His current defensive level is comparable to any central infielder on the KIA roster, and considering he’s just a 20-year-old sophomore, it’s even more promising.
His defensive prowess has earned him late-game playing time at shortstop or second base in crucial situations. Manager Lee often replaces Kim Sun-bin, whose at-bats are usually done by the seventh inning when the team is ahead, with Jung for defensive purposes. Jung’s strong play is building trust. There’s praise that his defense is even better than that of Asian-quota player Jared Dale. Jung’s emergence was a key factor behind KIA’s decision to option Dale to the minors on the 11th.
Kim Si-hoon (27) is currently in the minors, but his spring training performance was encouraging. As a pitcher with a naturally live fastball, if he can regain his velocity, he remains a promising asset. Still in his mid-20s, it’s too early to judge him solely on current results. KIA is gradually filling in the trade report card with positive outcomes.
