2023 should be a year of rebound for players who have fallen into sluggishness after moving teams. There is little time left to change the evaluation of the failed trade.
Samsung outfielder Kim Dong-yeop (33) is most urgent. Kim Dong-yeop left SK and came to Samsung in December 2019 through a triangle trade with Lee Ji-young (Samsung → Nexen) and Ko Jong-wook (Nexen → SK). He was selected by Samsung, which suffered from a lack of giant guns, in recognition of his long hitting power, which hit 22 home runs in 2017 and 27 home runs in 2018.
However, for four years after the trade, his batting average was only 2.66, 32 home runs, 127 RBIs, and OPS of .732 in 274 games. He hoped to settle down with 20 home runs in 115 games in 2020, but his performance fell again over the next two years. Last year, he played only 30 games in the first team, and hit the bottom with a batting average of 2.2 1.1, 1 home run and 4 RBIs. If the team fails to rebound this year amidst the wind of a generational change, its position may be at stake.
It is time for Hanwha outfielder Noh Su-gwang (33) to show something. In June 2020, he was traded for pitcher Lee Tae-yang and made a comeback from SK (now SSG) to his home team, Hanwha, but after the transfer, he expected an OPS of . fell short of Last year, he had a batting average of 2.29, 4 homers and 30 RBIs in 117 games. 메이저놀이터
Lee Tae-yang, who was traded with SSG, successfully rebounded and experienced the championship, and returned to Hanwha with a free agent contract. Noh Soo-gwang is also highly motivated as he will be eligible for free agency at the end of this season. Free agent Chae Eun-seong and new foreign hitter Brian O’Grady have been recruited, but a spot in the Hanwha outfield is vacant, so Noh Soo-kwang still has a chance to start.
On the pitcher side, LG left-hander Ham Deok-ju (28) desperately needs a rebound. Ham Deok-joo was traded from Doosan to LG ahead of the season opening in March 2021. While infielder Yang Seok-hwan, who was the main trade card, moved to Doosan and recorded 20 homers (28, 20) for two consecutive years, Ham Deok-joo spent more time in the second group than the first due to injuries and sluggishness.
He struggled to control his condition due to elbow pain and gout, and had an average ERA of 3.48 with 1 win, 2 losses and 1 hold in 29 games (33⅔ innings) at LG for two years. It has been a long time since I left the 1st team as the last game against Doosan in Jamsil on May 5 last year. Since the LG bullpen is so strong and there are many resources for left-handed pitchers, Ham Deok-joo has to break through internal competition.
NC sidearm pitcher Shim Chang-min (30) has nowhere to retreat. Shim Chang-min, who moved from Samsung to NC after being traded for catcher Kim Tae-gun in December 2021, had a career-low season in the first year of the transfer. He played 11 games (6⅓ innings) with 1 win, 2 losses and an average ERA of 14.21, which was very poor. After dropping to the second team in mid-May, the season ended with elbow pain.
His trade partner, Kim Tae-goon, was in sharp contrast with Samsung with his personal best batting average (.298). Shim Chang-min, who obtained free agency status after the season but did not apply, needs to rebound this year to be recognized for his free agency value. With Won Jong-hyeon (Kiwoom), a key bullpen pitcher, out of free agency, NC is looking forward to Shim Chang-min’s revival.