Kiwoom Heroes’ main catcher is veteran Lee Ji-young (37). He is the undisputed home master who was also selected for the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team. He is stable on both the ball and defense, and leads the pitchers’ offensive pitches with strong charisma. He has that much presence.
However, it is impossible for one catcher to endure the long race of 144 games per team. This is why he has to prepare backup catchers who can play at any time. The catcher behind Lee Ji-young at Kiwoom is Kim Dong-heon (19), who joined in the 2nd round (12th overall) of the 2023 rookie draft.
Catcher is more of a special position. He’s not just getting the ball. It is also the catcher’s job to closely understand the characteristics of pitchers and apply them in practice. This is why it is not easy for a rookie catcher to make a soft landing in the first team from his debut season. It is for this reason that Kiwoom director Hong Won-gi smiled broadly at Kim Dong-heon’s performance.메이저놀이터
Kim Dong-heon played in 5 games this season and recorded 4 hits in 6 at-bats. He also caught two of opponents’ four stolen base attempts while wearing the mask in 13 innings. The play that does not get intimidated under any circumstances is also his attractive point.
Prior to the Jamsil Doosan Bears game, which was canceled due to fine dust on the 12th, coach Hong said, “(Kim Dong-hun) calmly goes on base even with unfavorable ball counts.” “In terms of defense, such as pitcher lead and stolen base, I can see that he will become bigger than a rookie. I look forward to seeing a steady sense of stability.”
Kiwoom is a club that has an expertise in nurturing young players. If you stand out in the 1st team, you will constantly give them opportunities and instill confidence. Kim Dong-heon is also benefiting from it. Coach Hong said, “If you look at our team’s system, young players continue to get opportunities and play if they do well. It will help us grow a lot,” he said.