Those born in 1997 are preparing for the Year of the Ox, those born in 1985 are desperate.
The new year is the Year of the White Bull. In the KBO league, there are also several ox-band players preparing for the season in a new sense. Coincidentally, oxen born in 1997 are preparing for a bigger leap in the new year as their skills begin to fully bloom, and cattle born in 1985 have to prove their position amid the recent cold wind of the league, which has been rapidly pulled.
In 1997, if he joined high school graduates early, some of them would already be in their sixth year this year, while others of college graduates spent last year’s rookie season. Among those born in 1997, the left-hander Koo Chang-mo of NC played the most prominent role last year. Koo Chang-mo, who will be in his sixth year this year, was one of the most reliable pitchers as a starter in Korea, although he only played about half of the season due to injury last year with a 9 wins and 1.74 ERA.
Growing up after catcher Yang Eui-ji’s joining, he is expected to be a strong pillar of the NC mound, which is also expected to win two consecutive games this year, as he has a deception that dazzles the other’s eyes with his sharper control. NC signed first starter Drew Lucinski, and Na Sung-bum, who was seeking to enter the U.S. by posting, also remained, making Koo Chang-mo’s role more important 먹튀검증
Kia outfielder Choi Won-joon is also preparing for a bigger leap forward. He batted .326 with two home runs and 25 RBIs in 123 games last year. Having played the most games since his debut, he has been at the core of the Kia Tigers with a .421 slugging percentage and 14 bases stolen, up from 0.284 last year. As foreign player Preston Tucker tries to move to first base in the new year, Choi Won-jun’s role in the outfield is more important.
In addition, Choi Ji-hoon, who left a big hope as a rookie in SK’s stagnant fielder’s lineup, and Kang Jae-min, who endured 14 holds in the middle of Hanwha, with a 2.57 ERA, are also expected to perform in the new year.
On the other hand, those born in 1985 have to struggle to maintain their place while feeling the emptiness of time. He was born in 1985 when he was 35 at the time when he was the first to feel the changed atmosphere when the release continued after the season last year. In Hanwha alone, Choi Jin-haeng and Kim Hoe-sung left the team, and SK Yoon Seok-min was also released.
Among them, Lee Yong-kyu, who was Hanwha’s captain, took the opportunity at Kiwoom. He was the only player in the team that was at the bottom last year to fill the regular at-bats, but he had no choice but to accept the shocking release notice. After signing a contract with Kiwoom for up to 150 million won a year, he has to show his true worth in the new year.
The situation is not easy. As Lee Jung-hoo, who is at the center of Kiwoom, is poised to move to his main position, he should either back up the center fielder or compete as a corner outfielder. Kim Ha-sung has to sweat hard to be included in the table setter, which has been left out.
For Woo Kyu-min, who signed a contract with Samsung for up to 1 billion won in FA 1+1, the new year is a year of desperation. He signed a total of 6.5 billion won with Samsung four years ago and had to feel the futility of time in just four years. Last year, he played 52 games similar to 2019, but he recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, 7 saves and 11 holds. His ERA soared to 6.19. Oh Seung-hwan needs to strengthen his position in Gye-tujin at a time when he has a built-in finish.
SK Jamie Romak, who has been in the KBO league for five years, and Doosan’s Jang Won-jun, who did not apply for the first and second games of this season even though he was eligible for the FA, are also looking to revive the league. They are in a desperate situation that their performance this season will determine their survival in the league.
