NC Dinos vs. Kiwoom Heroes

A wiki document covering the rivalry structure, all-time matchups, and 2024–2025 season trends between the NC Dinos and Kiwoom Heroes, two clubs representing the KBO League.

NC Dinos vs. Kiwoom Heroes

Overview

The NC Dinos and Kiwoom Heroes are two clubs representing the KBO League, and since NC joined the first division in 2013, they have engaged in fierce battles in both the regular season and the postseason. The two teams contrast sharply in their founding backgrounds and operational methods: Kiwoom builds its roster through various trades and rookie development, while NC has actively pursued major free-agent signings and foreign player scouting since its early years. These differing team identities serve as the driving force behind intriguing matchups when the two clubs meet.

Main Content

Club Overview and Historical Background

The NC Dinos were founded in 2011 and joined the first division league in 2013, making them a relatively new club. They have posted consistent results since their inaugural season and won the Korean Series in 2020. The Kiwoom Heroes, on the other hand, were founded in 2008 as the successor to the disbanded Hyundai Unicorns, operated under the name Nexen Heroes for a period, and have been active as Kiwoom since 2019. Despite financial difficulties since their founding, Kiwoom has shown resilience by consistently reaching the postseason through a strong scouting and player development system.

Notable All-Time Matchups

The two teams' matchups began in 2013, when NC joined the first division. In the early years, NC showed relative weakness, but starting in 2014 their performance improved and the rivalry began to reach a balanced state. In particular, in 2015 and 2016 both teams advanced to fall baseball and engaged in close contests with winning percentages around .500.

A representative postseason matchup is the 2015 Playoff, in which NC defeated Kiwoom (then Nexen) 3 wins to 1 loss and advanced to the Korean Series. In 2022, Kiwoom also produced an upset by defeating NC in the Wild Card Game and advancing to the Semi-Playoff.

All-Time Head-to-Head Record and Key Records

As of the end of the 2024 season, NC holds a slight edge in the all-time head-to-head record with 199 wins, 3 draws, and 176 losses. At home, NC has been dominant with 104 wins, 1 draw, and 84 losses, but in games held at Kiwoom's home, Gocheok Sky Dome, the record is nearly even at 95 wins, 2 draws, and 92 losses.

In particular, Kiwoom has shown strength in quick-paced baseball and bullpen management utilizing their home ballpark, Gocheok Dome, often displaying an ability to come from behind late in games against NC. Meanwhile, NC has frequently exploited Kiwoom's weak starting rotation with a powerful lineup built on extra-base hitting.

Team Characteristics and Matchup Points

NC is a team where foreign players have consistently stood out since its founding. Kiwoom, by contrast, relies on solid teamwork, baserunning, and defensive organization among domestic players. Kiwoom tends to counter NC's hard-throwing pitchers with disciplined plate discipline, frequently working walks. NC often targets Kiwoom's relatively weaker infield by employing a batting strategy that aims for outfield flies rather than ground balls.

Recent Trends

In the 2024 season, both teams finished in the lower half of the standings with disappointing results. NC failed to surpass a .500 winning percentage for a second consecutive year following 2023, and Kiwoom also spent time near the bottom of the league while enduring the growing pains of young players. Ahead of the 2025 season, both clubs have set out to overhaul their rosters.

NC began its rebuilding process by calling up large numbers of young players to the first division starting in the middle of the 2024 season. In 2025, the club has focused on signing foreign pitchers to reorganize its starting rotation and is seeking to renew team atmosphere under captain Son Ah-seop.

Kiwoom still faces difficulties signing major free agents due to budget constraints, but has reinforced its roster through trades and the secondary draft. Catcher Kim Dong-heon, mentioned as a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2024, is expected to take over as a full-time starter starting in 2025, while young position players such as Lee Jae-sang and Kim Hwi-jip are developing into the team's new core.

The two teams' first matchup of the 2025 season is scheduled for the opening series at the end of March, and both clubs are expected to try to set the tone early in the season with their new rosters. In addition, under the KBO League's policies to strengthen competitiveness, the growth of young players on both teams is expected to determine each club's performance over the next two to three years.