'Stone Buddha' Oh Seung-hwan gets actual stone buddha

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'Stone Buddha' Oh Seung-hwan gets actual stone buddha

Published: 16 Apr. 2021, 14:01

A plywood model of a stone buddha with closer Oh Seung-hwan's face has been constructed in the outfield at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. [SAMSUNG LIONS]

"Stone Buddha" Oh Seung-hwan has been given an actual stone — well, plywood — buddha ahead of his 300th career save.

Samsung Lions closer Oh holds the KBO's all-time record for the most saves, at 299. With just one save left before he becomes the first pitcher in the KBO to break 300, the Lions have erected a large plywood caricature of Oh as a stone buddha in the outfield at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu.

Oh is known as the stone buddha because of his unflappable approach at the plate.

The plywood model of a stone buddha reportedly stands at 12 feet tall and will stay in the outfield until the end of this month.

Oh pitched for the Lions from 2005 to 2013, winning five championships and establishing himself as one of the most dominant closers in KBO history.

Between 2014 and 2019, Oh played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league and the MLB's St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies. He returned to the KBO last season and rejoined the Lions.

Now in his 11th season in the KBO since his debut in 2005, Oh has thrown a total of 299 saves, 31 wins and 15 losses with a 1.81 ERA over 561 and two thirds innings pitched. He has already picked up four saves in five appearances this season, with a 7.36 ERA so far.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]