Home > Sports > Baseball

Fielding errors pile up across KBO, exposing weakness of season's early stretch

Published: 16 Apr. 2026, 17:42

Doosan Bears infielder An Jae-seok during a defense practice in Miyazaki, Japan, in November 2025 [DOOSAN BEARS]

Costly fielding errors are piling up across the KBO, turning routine plays into game-changing moments and exposing one of the biggest weaknesses of the season’s early stretch.

The Hanwha Eagles lead the league with 16 errors, followed by SSG Landers and Doosan Bears, tied for second, with 15 each. For a league in which pitching usually sets the tone, the shaky fielding is proving to be just as decisive.

A fielding error in baseball refers to a defensive mistake in which the player fails to convert an out on a play that an average fielder should have made, according to the MLB.

Before the Doosan Bears’ game against the KT Wiz in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on Saturday, Bears manager Kim Won-hyong spoke candidly about his team’s repeated mistakes in the field after three costly miscues the previous day.

“If something like this goes into an article, young players could lose confidence in themselves,” he said. “But that does not mean we can just keep shielding them. Young fielders still tend to let their desire get ahead of them. That’s why experience matters. They have to keep playing and feel it for themselves.”

The same problem surfaced at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul, where the SSG Landers tried to snap a four-game losing streak after a string of shaky defensive performances against the LG Twins. Landers manager Lee Seung-yong sent veteran second baseman An Sang-hyun down to the minor Futures League before the game against the LG Twins and called up Seok Jeung-woo, who had been performing well in the minors, in what appeared to be a clear message to the rest of the team.

However, the decision seemed to make little difference in the outcome. The SSG Landers committed four more errors and were routed 9-1. During its five-game losing streak over the past week, the club has made a total of nine errors.

SSG Landers' An Sang-hyun during a game with the Lotte Giants on Sept. 5, 2025 [NEWS1]

The Hanwha Eagles also paid the price for a defensive breakdown in Daejeon. Trailing the Kia Tigers 4-2 in the sixth inning, the Eagles allowed a crucial run on what should have been a routine grounder. First baseman Chae Eun-seong failed to handle the ball cleanly, then followed with an errant throw as pitcher Lee Sang-kyu covered first. Han Jun-su scored from second on the play, and the Eagles never recovered in a 9-3 loss.

The early series of fielding mistakes is underlining the importance of defense. Pitching remains essential over a 144-game season, but even strong work on the mound can quickly come undone without reliable fielding behind it. This is why every club treats defensive drills as a core part of spring training.

Hanwha Eagles' Oh Jae-won, right, fails to catch a flyball during a game with the KT WIZ on April 2. [NEWS1]

This season, errors have often led directly to defeats, making even ordinary ground balls a source of tension. Defensive struggles can also spill over into offense, as players who lose confidence in the field often begin to press at the plate as well.

“Every club is worrying deeply about this,” commentator Choi Won-ho said. “In [the Bears’] case, they need to develop infielders such as Park Jun-soon and An Jae-seok, who can hit well. The problem is defense, and until they settle in, patience is needed.”

“Errors are connected to hitting in some ways,” Choi added. “When one side becomes unstable, players often go into a slump in both areas. In the end, what matters is how they overcome that.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KO BONG-JUN [[email protected]]