Kim Jong-guk (50), head coach of the KIA Tigers, foreshadowed ‘infinite competition’ ahead of the spring camp, which he will lead for the first time since taking office last year. The existing key players such as Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter) and Kim Seon-bin (second baseman) and new additions Na Seong-beom (right fielder) and Socrates Brito (center fielder) seemed to have their positions fixed, but they tried to create tension within the team.
The competition for catcher, third baseman and left fielder was especially fierce. As a result, rookie infielder Kim Do-young overtook Ryu Ji-hyuk for the 10th year (as of 2022) and became the starting third baseman for the opening game. Kim Seok-hwan, a rookie who has been attracting attention since the demonstration game, took the starting left fielder. The starting catcher was Kim Min-sik (currently SSG Landers).
However, Kim Do-yeong and Kim Seok-hwan failed to live up to coach Kim Jong-guk’s unconventional mercenary tactics, with batting averages in the 10% range during the opening month. Kim Min-sik transferred to SSG as a trade card after KIA recruited ‘offensive catcher’ Park Dong-won.
Hwang Dae-in, who improved his skills in the 2022 season, secured the first baseman and Park Chan-ho the shortstop position, respectively. Even after a year, the position that KIA needs to find is the same as last year. Starting on the 1st of next month (Korean time), the topic of the spring camp to be held in Tucson, Arizona, USA is the competition for catcher, third baseman and left fielder.
The vacancy is the same, but the competition structure and goals are different from a year ago. As for the third baseman, Ryu Ji-hyeok, whose position has become more solid than a year ago, starts competing at the starting line slightly ahead. He filled the required at-bat for the first time since his debut in the 2022 season, and left a not bad batting average (0.274). As a third baseman, he threw 785 and 2/3 innings, a personal record for any position.
Kim Do-young, who handed over the shortstop to Park Chan-ho, is aiming for the starting third baseman in his second year of professional debut. His weapon is potential. Last year, he failed to properly show his contact and running ability, which were evaluated as strengths. However, in the 27 games he played in the second half (August-October), he recorded a batting average of 0.294 and a slugging percentage of 0.451, leaving behind Ryu Ji-hyuk with a batting average of 0.281 and a slugging percentage of 0.372.
KIA sent starting pitcher Han Seung-hyuk to the Hanwha Eagles and hired Byun Woo-hyuk, a 5-year-old ‘Geopo prospect’, is also a dark horse in competition for the starting third baseman. He was recognized for his potential enough to be selected in the 2019 first round draft. During Hanwha, he was the most anticipated player along with Noh Si-hwan.
In Anbang, there is a high possibility that Han Seung-taek will be dropped as the starting pitcher. Park Dong-won, who was the main catcher last season, obtained the qualification as a free agent (FA) and transferred to the LG Twins, and Kim Min-sik is also absent. Joo Hyo-sang, who was recruited by the KIA with the right to name a newcomer (2nd round in 2024), has never had a season where he played more than 400 innings (based on a single season) as a catcher.
In 2020-2021, under the managerial system of Matt Williams, KIA alternately appointed Kim Min-sik and Han Seung-taek as starting catchers. Was it because of competition without results? Both players failed to develop. Some voices said that it would be better to drop a player during the spring camp and give him a chance to play. 메이저놀이터
The left fielder is a competition to find a player to keep the position at the beginning of the season (April-May). When Choi Won-joon returns, there is a very high possibility that he will occupy a spot in the outfield. Choi Won-joon was the team leadoff player with a batting average of 0.326 in the 2020 season. Currently serving in the Sangmu baseball team, he will be discharged in early June. KIA sees the best position for Choi Won-jun, who also has good defense, as a center fielder or right fielder. It is possible that Socrates will move to left field.
Lee Chang-jin, who recorded a batting average of 0.301 last season, Kim Seok-hwan, who gained experience in the Australian league, and Kim Ho-ryung, who has good defense, are aiming for a ‘short-term starter’ and ‘backup 1 option’. One person can be pushed to group 2. It is a fiercer competition for survival than the main battle.