The KIA Tigers are seeing the effect of Choi Won-jun (26) added.
Choi Won-joon,토토체험머니 who joined his team on the 13th after completing military service in the Sangmu baseball team, made multi-hits from his first game back to the first team (against Kiwoom Heroes), overshadowing his hiatus. In his second game in which he appeared on the 14th, he also multi-hit.
Choi Won-joon stagnated with no hits in 5 at-bats in the 3rd game of Kiwoom on the 15th, but on the 16th against the NC Dinos, he went on base 3 times with 1 hit and 2 walks, all of which hit home. Although his batting average (0.231) recorded in 6 games after his return is not high, it is evaluated that he is doing well in his team leadoff role.
There is another effect of Choi Won-joon’s addition. Originally an outfielder, he took over as first baseman, and the competition for this position heats up. Hwang Dae-in, who took this position for the past two seasons (2021-2022), went down to the Futures League due to his sluggish batting average of 0.212, and Byun Woo-hyuk had fewer opportunities to play because Choi Won-jun joined.
Choi Won-joon said that if KIA clears the position, he can return to the outfield someday. He was also selected as an outfielder for the Hangzhou Asian Games baseball national team, which will be held in September.
Existing first basemen such as Hwang Dae-in, Byeon Woo-hyuk, and Kim Seok-hwan must show their competitiveness in the meantime. Even if 2022 1st rookie nominated special infield prospect Kim Do-young returns to the first team after injury rehabilitation treatment, Ryu Ji-hyeok, who is currently in charge of third base, can move to first base. Ryu Ji-hyeok is no longer a player who needs verification as a starter. In this case, the three existing first base resources may actually have to compete for the backup 1 option.
In this situation, Byun Woo-hyeok is showing survival instinct. In June, when Choi Won-joon’s return became visible, he recorded a batting average of 0.429 (9 hits in 21 at-bats) in 10 games he played. He had two multi-hits, and also added one home run and one double. He hit a solo home run against NC on the 18th, widening the score to 2 points (score 5-3). KIA won all 5 games where Byun Woo-hyuk hit a home run this season. Good vibes followed. 먹튀검증
Hwang Dae-in is also protesting by recording 4 homers and 7 RBIs in 4 games he recently played in the Futures League. As he has been the main player for the past two seasons, he has no choice but to have a strong will to win back.
He said that positive effects can be expected at the team level. Even if the existing main player is given a break in terms of stamina arrangement, the decrease in attack power can be minimized, and competition synergy can emerge even when used as a pinch hitter. The figure that Byun Woo-hyuk is proving is an example.