KT WIZ Kang Baek-ho (24), who was silent for a long time due to mental and physical anxiety issues, finally exploded.안전놀이터

Kang Baek-ho came up as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning of a 9-5 home game against the SSG Landers of the 2023 Baseball World Series at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon on Monday and hit a walk-off home run.

He faced a full count against the opposition’s second pitcher, Park Jong-hoon, and took a seven-pitch fastball high up in the zone for a grand slam over the right field wall. It was his seventh of the season.

After three straight triple-digit batting seasons from 2019 to 2021, Kang struggled with injuries last season, batting .245 with six home runs and 29 RBIs.

He continued to struggle this season, and was especially criticized for not giving his best in a game against the LG Twins on May 18.

Mentally traumatized, Kang complained of physical and mental fatigue and was removed from the first team roster for the second time this season on July 27.

After rejoining the first team on July 5, he pinch-hit in all three games against LG, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.

After a long silence, Kang broke through with his trademark swing for a home run that sent Suwon Katie Wise Park into a frenzy.