{
  "id": 16681240,
  "title": "With military service on horizon, pitcher hoping to leave Tigers on positive note",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/with-military-service-on-horizon-pitcher-hoping-to-leave-tigers-on",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T00:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20261027/with-military-service-on-horizon-pitcher-hoping-to-leave-tigers-on-positive-note"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pitcher Kia Tigers Jung Hai-young, once a top closer in Korean baseball, faces a challenging future as he anticipates military service. The 28-year-old's fortunes have changed drastically in recent years. In 2024, Jung became the first closer in Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) history to win the All-Star fan voting. That year, he set a league record with 31 saves and helped the Tigers clinch the Korean Series title. In 2025, Jung maintained his form with 27 saves, marking his fifth consecutive season with over 20 saves.\n\nHowever, Jung's season took a turn for the worse in 2026. He struggled out of the gate, eventually being placed in the minor leagues and losing his closer role mid-season. His performance suffered greatly, with a 6.12 ERA, the worst of his seven-year career, and only two saves for the year. In the current season, Jung has been charged with a career-low 34 earned runs in 50 innings. This is a stark contrast to 2022, when he allowed only 14 earned runs in 50 2/3 innings. Jung's recent performance has been lacking in high-leverage situations, particularly during the postseason. This changed on Monday night, when he stepped up during the first game of the second round against the Samsung Lions in Daegu.",
  "summary": "Over the past three seasons, Kia Tigers reliever Jung Hai-young has gone from one of the top closers in Korean baseball to a pitcher who could no longer be trusted in key spots. The fall has been jarring. In 2024, Jung became the first closer to top the All-Star fan voting in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history. He led the league with 31 saves that year and helped the Tigers win the Korean…",
  "key_points": [
    "28-year-old pitcher Kia Jung faces military service.",
    "Set KBO record with 31 saves in 2024.",
    "Struggled with 6.12 ERA and 34 ER in 2026."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Jung's recent performance struggles suggest a fading dominance that complicates his attempt to secure a dignified departure from the Tigers before his mandatory military service begins.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "With military service on horizon, pitcher hoping to leave Tigers on positive note",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/with-military-service-on-horizon-pitcher-hoping-to-leave-tigers-on-16684120",
        "published": "2026-10-27T00:20:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}