Yang Hyun-jong's achievement of 190 wins was by no means the result of spectacular shutouts or overwhelming pitching. The victory against the LG Twins on the 18th was also a tough game, somewhat different from the dominance of the past prime days, with 89 pitches thrown and 6 walks allowed in 5 innings. However, he showed skill in managing the game by not wavering and minimizing the number of runs conceded even in a desperate situation with the bases loaded and no outs in the early stages of the game. Even though he recognized that his balance was not perfect, he chose a ‘clever pitch’ that drew help from the defense and controlled the direction of the ball rather than forcing it. This ability to respond flexibly is the secret to his reign as a top starting pitcher in the KBO League for nearly 20 years.

Currently, the KIA Tigers mound is in desperate need of Yang Hyun-jong's presence. This is because the next generation of native starters, including Lee Ui-ri, Yoon Young-cheol, and Kim Do-hyun, have suffered a series of elbow injuries and surgeries, making it difficult to leave the team or promise a return. While the young players who would carry the team's future were on the operating table, Yang Hyun-jong silently maintained his position without skipping the rotation and assumed the role of the central axis of the starting lineup. Rather than being unreasonably greedy for innings to fill the void left by juniors, the quality of a true veteran can be seen in the way he focuses on increasing the team's chances of winning by doing as much as he can throw. Although he humbly admitted that his performance was lower than in his prime, he showed his will to dedicate himself to the team's victory and showed himself as the spiritual leader of the entire team.

Yang Hyun-jong's secret to a long run is evident even outside the stadium. His sincerity in thoroughly protecting his skin and devoting himself to training even under the hot sun is a small clue that explains why he is called the ‘Steel King.’ Setting a record of pitching 150 innings for 11 consecutive seasons from 2014 to last year was not simply due to luck, but was possible because of the perfect combination of daily training and body management. Rather than being intoxicated by the result of victory, he is still focused on finding improvements and correcting his pitching balance. In an interview right after he achieved the record of 190 wins, he did not attach much significance to the record itself, but rather expressed his feelings of apology to the bullpen pitchers because he could only play 5 innings. This proves that he is a player who puts the team's victory and the hard work of his teammates before his personal success.

Yang Hyun-jong's eyes are now on the unprecedented record of 200 career wins. 190 wins is a process, not an end, and he's still eager to prove his worth on the mound. The KIA Tigers are currently having a lot of trouble with mound management, to the point where they are considering a 6-starter system by combining several foreign pitchers, including Yang Hyun-jong, and domestic starters, but at the center of it all is Yang Hyun-jong, who always maintains his position. The pitching he shows goes beyond technical perfection and is like a work of art that embodies the philosophy of a pitcher who has overcome numerous crises and his sincerity toward baseball. His journey toward 200 wins will go beyond simply breaking records, and will become a living textbook that shows younger players ‘how to manage and persevere.’