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By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- In the moments after recording the final three outs of his team's victory Wednesday night, LG Twins pitcher Kim Yun-sik was clutching a baseball in his left hand.

It may not have seemed like an occasion special enough to warrant a keepsake game ball. After all, the Twins beat the Doosan Bears rather comfortably, 6-1, and it wasn't a save situation for Kim when he took the mound at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul in the top of the ninth inning. One of the best teams so far in this Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, the Twins enjoyed another ho-hum, business-as-usual victory over their Seoul rivals.

Kim Yun-sik of the LG Twins pitches against the Doosan Bears during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on May 6, 2026, in this photo provided by the Twins. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

But this was Kim's first KBO game in a while -- 740 days to be exact. And right fielder Hong Chang-ki, who caught a flyball for the final out, wanted Kim to celebrate his return with the game ball.

Kim had last pitched on April 26, 2024, against the Kia Tigers at Jamsil. He underwent elbow surgery a few days later that ended his season and put his promising career on hold.

The third overall pick at the 2019 KBO draft, Kim pitched to a 3.31 ERA in his third season in 2022. He had a dominant September that year, going 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA in 29 innings with 28 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed. Although Kim's ERA in 2023 jumped to 4.22, the lefty shined in the postseason that year. He tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 4 of the Korean Series, helping the Twins to a 15-4 rout of the KT Wiz. They went on to win the next game for their first title since 1994.

Following the operation, Kim decided to rehab his injury while fulfilling his mandatory military service. He was discharged on April 21 this year and began his throwing program with the Twins the next day.

Kim Yun-sik of the LG Twins pitches against the Doosan Bears during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on May 6, 2026, in this photo provided by the Twins. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

He tossed five shutout innings across two minor league outings on April 26 and then last Friday, with three strikeouts against zero walks. The Twins called him up Tuesday and then came his outing Wednesday.

"I wasn't that nervous before I took the mound. Coaches told me that I would go out in the ninth inning if we scored another run before that," Kim said afterward. The Twins did get that one extra run in the eighth inning. "But once I got the word that I was going to take the ball for the ninth inning, I started getting really excited. Everyone told me to just relax and pace myself, and to stick to my usual routine."

Kim ended up needing just seven pitches for his tidy outing. He served up a single to Kim Min-suk but got Hong Seong-ho to hit a comebacker off a first-pitch slider for a 1-6-3 double play.

Kim Yun-sik fielded the ball cleanly and made an accurate throw to shortstop Oh Ji-hwan to start the twin killing. For someone making his first KBO appearance in over two years, Kim showed such great poise and patience on the play.

The pitcher then retired Kim Ki-yeon on a lazy fly to Hong, who saved the baseball and handed it to a smiling Kim Yun-sik as they high-fived each other in post-victory celebration.

"I feel like I haven't really changed much," Kim said. "But I lifted weights consistently while I was in the military, and that has allowed me to throw my pitchers with more zip."

Kim said pitching in front of a sellout crowd of 23,750 at Jamsil, the majority of them Twins fans, made him feel like he's finally back where he belongs.

"It felt awesome to stand on the Jamsil mound and hear our fans cheering. It made my comeback complete," Kim said. "I want to thank our fans, and I will try to reward them with a strong performance from here on."

LG Twins pitcher Kim Yun-sik studies the ball for the final out of his team's 6-1 win over the Doosan Bears in their Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on May 6, 2026. (Yonhap)

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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