Former MVP Mel Rojas Jr. returned to the KBO and brought back memories of Jamie Lomac with his 155th career home run.
The KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) won the ninth game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Kiwoom Heroes 9-2 on Sunday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea.
KT has won four straight games, eight straight against Kiwoom and four straight at Gocheok Sky Dome to improve to 43 wins, two ties and 46 losses on the season. The team secured the three-game midweek series early and maintained its dominant 8-1 record against Kiwoom this season.
Rojas was the star of the show, starting in left field and going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored.
She drew the final arc from her first at-bat. He led off the top of the first inning with a solo home run off KIUM ace Enmanuel De Jesus.
Rojas watched for a first-pitch strike and then launched the second pitch, a high curveball (117 mph), over the left-field fence for a 105-meter home run. It was his 23rd home run of the season, continuing his back-to-back home run barrage from the previous day.
With the home run,
Rojas tied Jamie Lomac (SSG Landers) for third place on the KBO’s all-time home run list by a foreign hitter (155). The gap between him and second-place Jay Davis (167-hanhwa Eagles) is 12. In first place is Tyron Woods (Doosan Bears) with 174.
Rojas, who singled to right field in the top of the third inning to give himself a breather, 토토사이트 추천 drew an eight-pitch walk off the bat of Heisus with one out in the top of the fifth inning for a 2-0 lead. He then took advantage of a throwing error by second baseman Kim Hye-sung, stole second, went to third, and came home on Kim Sang-soo’s RBI triple to right-center.
Rojas didn’t stop there, lacing an RBI single to left center with two outs in the top of the sixth to make it 6-0.
After the game,
Rojas said, “I heard a couple days ago that I was close to tying for third place on the KBO’s all-time home run list by a foreign hitter, but I didn’t expect it to happen today. It’s a sign that I’ve been doing well in Korea, so I’m happy,” Rojas said after the game, referring to his tie for third place on the KBO’s home run list.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired,” he said. ”Compared to the beginning of the season, I’ve gotten better in training. Compared to the beginning of the season, I try to be smarter in training and in my preparation for games. I try to be smarter in training and in my preparation compared to the beginning of the season. The All-Star break also helped,” he explained.
Rojas, who is on track to replicate his MVP-winning season on offense, is also aiming for an MVP-caliber performance on defense.
“I think I’m doing a great job offensively, and I think I deserve to be recognized for my offense,” he said. ”I heard for the first time today that the KBO has a defensive award, and I’m hungry for it. I’m working hard on offense and running the bases, but I want to be recognized as a player who contributes to the team on defense as well.”