This season, the KBO League has reduced overtime from the previous 12th to 11th innings. Due to the change in regulations, the use of closer pitchers is expanding. 토토사이트

Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung deployed closing pitcher Kim Won-joong at the top of the 10th inning when the game against KT Wiz in the 2025 KBO League was tying 3-3 at Sajik Stadium in Busan on March 30. The team now has only two chances to play overtime, each for offense and defense. The team apparently had the determination to score a point in horse attack by blocking one inning for sure at the top of the 10th inning. 

Kim completed his mission by allowing one inning without losing a point in the top of the 10th inning, but when Lotte ended up scoreless in the bottom of the 10th inning, Kim took the mound again in the top of the 11th inning. Manager Kim Tae-hyung tried to block the last defense by using the most stable pitcher since there was no 12th inning. Kim allowed one run in the top of the 11th inning. However, Lotte's batters recovered one run in offense in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the game was tied 4-4. 

SSG Landers manager Lee Soo-yong also put in closer Cho Byung-hyun in the top of the 10th inning, when the game against Lotte was 2-2 at home (SSG Landers Field in Incheon) on the 25th of last month, and did not change the pitcher in the 11th inning when the same score continued when he stopped the 10th inning without losing a point. 

As a result, this choice failed. After receiving an infield single from the leadoff hitter Yoon Dong-hee, Cho made a timely hit to Son Ho-young in a crisis he faced, leading to his outfielder's throwing error. SSG lost 2-3. 

The next day, Lee blamed the loss on himself, but said, "I pushed ahead because I thought I would be disappointed if I lost without using Cho." Lee said, "I used Cho more because I didn't have to think about running the mound in the 12th inning. I think the mound management has become more comfortable compared to the 12th inning." 

When asked about Cho's decision to let him run until the 11th inning, he said, "I decided that bold appointment (managing) was right." As the team has the finishing pitcher who can hold the game longer than one inning, it has become more advantageous for the team to play overtime. "I thought that I could use the finishing pitcher like this. It will be a big variable to the management of the mound in the 11th inning," Lee said. 

The head coach of other teams also welcomed the decision to reduce the number of innings. "When we have to play until the 12th inning, we will have more worries. Now we can make choices and focus. The bench will move faster," KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-chul said. "There were times when I played through the 12th inning, it was too much for me to run the mound. (The overtime system in the 11th inning) is much better," manager Kim Tae-hyung said.