“They’re doing a much better job than I expected.”
The NC Dinos, coached by Kang Myung-ho, are without starting catcher Park Se-hyuk due to injury. Park was removed from the first team roster on April 14 due to tendinitis in his left wrist. It was another exclusion after he was removed from the first-team roster on April 14 due to shock after being hit in the back of the head by a bat swung by foreign hitter Guillermo Heredia while fielding against the SSG Landers.
Park, who came to NC from the Doosan Bears for a total of 4.6 billion won prior to this season, was batting .212 with 47 doubles, four home runs, 27 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 79 games. A steady catching leadoff hitter who can provide a boost to young pitchers, his departure is a big loss for NC.
“We haven’t started technical training yet. Right now, we are focusing on treatment,” he sighed. In addition, backup catcher Ahn Jung-yeol was also withdrawn from the roster due to a partially damaged right adductor muscle.
But with every crisis comes opportunity. There is a player who can fill the void left by Park’s injury. It’s Kim Hyung-jun. After joining the NC with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 second round, Kim hit .227 with 59 hits, five home runs, 22 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 159 games in the first team through the 2020 season.
Kim suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in August of last year, just before he was drafted. He returned in May, but had to take another hiatus due to ligament damage in his right ankle after stepping on a ball in training.
He returned to action on July 5 against the Futures Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangsang). After hitting .321 in July and .290 in August, he received his first first-team call-up of the season on July 23.
Initially, manager Kang Myung-ho said, “I need to check more about the first team. I was named to the Asian Games team, but I shouldn’t be able to play in the first team and lose my senses.” “It’s fine if I can continue to play in the first team, but it’s a little difficult to do that. I’m going to keep playing for the Futures and keep my feel for it, and then we’ll think about a call-up in the September expansion roster.” With two catchers out with injuries, Kim was called up.
Kim Hyung-jun has exceeded everyone’s expectations and is giving NC a boost. In eight games, he is batting .318 with seven doubles, four home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored. More than half of his hits are home runs. The power is there. It’s a small sample size, but it’s certainly something to get excited about. He was not selected for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games for nothing.먹튀검증
“He’s doing a much better job than I expected,” said head coach Kang Myung-ho, giving him a thumbs-up.
“I believe in Kim Hyung-joon’s ability. I think he’s going to do a lot better,” he said, adding, “I think he’s feeling the physical strain as he continues to play. We will work harder to manage his physical strength and condition.”
Manager Kang Myung-hyun had previously said, “He has a strong opinion as a catcher. Kim Hyung-joon’s shoulder is something that cannot be acquired. He has good natural talent. In addition, he has been developing his fundamentals as a catcher since he was young. He is a player with high potential.”
Kim Hyung-jun, who is said to be the future of Korean baseball beyond the NC, is a player we can look forward to seeing more of in the future.