adminAs Samsung Lions catcher Kim Jae-seong (27) left the team due to a right flank injury, the role of second catcher Kim Tae-gun became more important.
Kim Jae-seong started as the designated hitter against Doosan in the 2023 KBO League exhibition game held at Jamsil Stadium on the 26th and stood at bat in the 7th inning safely at 1st and 3rd base.
In the first pitch, first base runner Kim Seong-yoon succeeded in stealing the base and 2nd and 3rd base. The game continued with a full count, and he fouled on the 7th pitch. At this time, he felt pain in his side. Any more blows were unreasonable. Eventually, he was replaced with Kim Dong-yeop.
As a result of a detailed examination, it was diagnosed that the right side internal oblique muscle was damaged by about 10 cm. He was told it would take about 8 weeks to recover. It’s a misfire before the opening.
This is a huge loss for Samsung. Kim Jae-sung, who came to Samsung last year as Park Hae-min’s compensation player, played 63 games, batting average of 0.335, 3 home runs, 26 RBIs, and OPS of 0.855. He formed a 3 catcher system with Kang Min-ho and Kim Tae-goon. He plans to go with the same idea this year.
However, the sudden departure of Kim Jae-sung caused disruptions in Samsung’s 3rd catcher operation. As a result, Kim Tae-gun’s weight has increased.
Last year, Samsung’s main catcher Kang Min-ho wore a catcher’s mask for 714⅓ innings in 95 games, and Kim Tae-gun played 390 innings in 69 games. The team’s third catcher Kim Jae-seong took charge of 171⅔ innings in 26 games.
This year, Kim Tae-goon’s weight will increase in order to arrange Kang Min-ho’s stamina. If Kang Min-ho wears the starting catcher mask, Kim Tae-goon will be used as a pinch hitter in critical situations.
Last year, Kim Tae-gun played 102 games and recorded a batting average of 0.298, 2 homers and 25 RBIs, and had a career high season as a hitter. In particular, as a pinch hitter, he wielded a batting average of 0.435.
And Samsung’s hell training all winter well. Although he returned home early due to an ankle injury, he focused on his recovery, considering it a step back to move forward.
As a result, he is recovering quickly and is entering the demonstration game. On the 25th, he wore a mask for the second start of the demonstration game and worked with Buchanan. And he pitched 5⅓ scoreless innings. He doesn’t feel bad at hitting. At the plate, he went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. He played 8 games until the 27th, and he has a batting average of 0.417, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. 스포츠토토
Yang Eui-ji (36, Doosan), who ate a pot of rice in NC, is not the factor that Kim Tae-gun was able to grow further on both sides of the offense and defense. One of them is defensive training. Before the game, Kim Tae-goon completes batting training, catcher training, and third base fungo training. Why?
Kim Tae-gun said, “After being discharged from the military in 2019, I worked with (Yang) Ui-ji. When I get a funk at third base, I practice moving my legs a lot. The catcher also has to keep moving in the circle. I watched and followed Eui-ji because Eui-hyung did it. There was a way,” he said. “At Samsung, (Kang) Minho does the same. Catchers don’t just go to third base and get kicked,” he emphasized.
Now, there is only one catcher to support Kang Min-ho, Kim Tae-goon. At the beginning of this season, Kim Tae-gun’s performance became more important. Kim Tae-goon laughed and said, “It’s always fun when I go to a game.” Then he said, “You can’t stay in one place because the juniors below you will hit and rise.”