Kim Gun-hee, a second-year catcher for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, had a day to remember.
Kim started at third base against the Samsung Lions at the Gocheok SkyDome on July 7th. He went 2-for-4 with a home run in his first at-bat, his first career home run, one RBI, and one run scored. Kiwoom defeated Samsung 7-5 to snap a three-game losing streak that began on May 5 against Jamsil LG Electronics.
Kim, who came to bat with the bases loaded in the first inning, faced Samsung starter Won Tae-in on a 0B-1S pitch count and launched a two-seam curveball (121 kilometers) over the right-field fence. The distance was 115 meters.
“Hitting coach Oh Yoon and the power analysis team told me to look for the opposing pitcher’s fastball and slider. 안전놀이터 I timed my bat to the fastball and it came out for a big hit. I wasn’t trying to push it, but I saw the ball and swung at it, and it turned out well,” he said.
Kim, who joined Kiwoom last year after graduating from Wonju University, tried to combine his batting with his pitching. In her first year, she realized the high barriers of the professional stage. In nine games as a hitter in the first team last year, Kim went 2-for-11 with two home runs and an RBI. He made three appearances on the mound, going winless with a 22.50 ERA.
He showed more talent as a hitter than a pitcher.
In the Futures League, he batted .301 (23-for-72) with one home run, 13 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. However, he has struggled in all three of his appearances, posting a 7.04 ERA.
Kim has decided to focus on hitting instead of doubling as a pitcher. He will play catcher. “Considering the future of the team, we need to develop a catcher with good offense,” said Hong Won-ki. Despite his lack of experience as a catcher, he has shown rapid growth thanks to his strong will and the coaching staff’s dedication.
Kim also thwarted Kim Jae-hyuk’s steal in the seventh inning. “I get nervous when there are runners on base, but I try to throw without thinking about it. I think that’s why I got a good throw and caught the runner,” he humbled himself. ”I’ve been training with Battery Coach Park Do-hyun to get better. I’m always grateful to Coach Park for his detailed instruction,” he added.
“I’m more excited than tired,” he said of his decision to become a catcher instead of a batting duo. I had an idea of becoming a catcher, but I was grateful that the club offered it to me first, and it made me feel more at ease,” he said. Kim Gun-hee added, “Coach Kim Dong-woo, the battery coach of the Future Team, has taught me a lot and given me a lot of practice, so I feel like I can play catcher for the first team now.”
Meanwhile, manager Hong Won-ki said, “Gyetu-jin’s no-hitter paved the way for the chase. Kim Gun-hee, who hit his debut home run, and Song Sung-moon, who had four hits, led the offense. The offense was led by Kim Gun-hee, who hit his debut home run, 에볼루션 바카라사이트 and Song Seong-moon, who had two hits.” The bats narrowed the gap, especially Kim Tae-jin’s RBI single in the seventh inning, and Won Sung-joon’s thunderous three-run homer in the seventh inning.