In a dramatic turn during the 2026 Shin Han Unhaeng SOL Bank KBO League matchup at Incheon SSG Landers Field, SSG starter Benigno delivered five scoreless innings before a costly hit-by-pitch led to his ejection and a 5-7 defeat against Lotte.
Strong Opening Shattered by Ejection
Benigno dominated early, scattering three hits, one walk, and fanning three Lotte batters over five innings while keeping the scoreboard clean. Runners reached base on an infield single by Park Sung-wook in the second and a hit to Jeon Min-jae in the fifth, but he escaped without damage.
The turning point came in the sixth. With SSG nursing a 2-0 lead and no outs, Benigno unleashed a 146 km/h fastball that struck Lotte’s Han Tae-yang in the helmet. Umpires promptly ejected him after reviewing the incident. Reliever No Kyung-eun entered with runners on first and second, but Lotte tied the game immediately.
SSG’s bullpen faltered further, surrendering four more runs in the inning. Benigno’s final line: 73 pitches, with a fastball topping 151 km/h, 31 fastballs, 17 changeups, 11 sweepers, nine sinkers, and five sliders.
Manager Sees Growth Opportunity
SSG manager Lee Seung-yong viewed the mishap as a valuable lesson. “This was the most critical situation,” he stated. “He knows it himself. It’s a good experience—one he must build on to earn more starts.”
Benigno absorbed the manager’s earlier warning but faltered in a single moment. His season stats reflect struggles: five starts, 24 innings, an ERA of 6.38, signaling room for improvement amid competition from teammates like Mitch White, Kim Kwang-hyun, and Kim Min-jun.
The loss highlights SSG’s pitching depth challenges as the KBO season intensifies.
