KS Overcomes Pain and Stands Tall... KT Coach Lee Kang-cheol “Challenge Once Again”
Director Lee Kang-cheol's move...
The batting lineup that joins Rojas in competition for the 5th starting spot, including Ju-won, Chae-ho Lee, and Min-soo Kim ... Building an outfield with Kim Min-hyuk, Bae Jeong-dae, and Lohas
Professional baseball KT Wiz had a ‘magical' year in 2023.
At the beginning of the regular season, the team was ranked at the bottom due to a series of injured players, but after successfully rebounding in mid-June, they swept to victory with tremendous momentum and advanced to the Korean Series (KS).
Although they unfortunately bowed out in the LG Twins and KS, 2023 became a stepping stone for the KT team to grow one step further.
KT is a strong candidate to win in 2024 as well. 온라인카지노
Closing pitcher Kim Jae-yoon, who qualified as a free agent (FA), transferred to the Samsung Lions, but 2020 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Mel Rojas Jr. joined, and valuable resources such as Woo Gyu-min and Moon Yong-ik were added.
KT is evaluated as having the potential to challenge for the presidency once again this year as long as variables such as injuries are avoided.
KT coach Lee Kang-cheol is also full of confidence.
This year, I am determined to lift the KS championship trophy, which I unfortunately missed last year.
A roadmap toward winning the KS has already been established in Coach Lee's mind.
On the 15th, Coach Lee met with Yonhap News at the Ananti at Busan Cove in Gijang-gun, Busan, the spring camp accommodation, and revealed in detail the outlook for the new season, the team's strength, and the player plans, and expressed his determination to "challenge once again."
- One empty starting spot…
KT is a team with solid power, competing with the core bullpen of Ju-won, Lee Chae-ho, and Kim Min-soo.
The starters, bullpen, and closer are solid, and the fielders at each position are solid.
However, there are also holes.
The most needed part is the 5th starter.
KT has one empty spot in the starting rotation due to Bae Seong's enlistment.
The selection of four players - William Cuevas, Wes Benjamin, Ko Young-pyo, and Eom Sang-baek - is certain, but one spot is a problem.
So Hyun-jun underwent elbow ligament fusion surgery last year and is scheduled to return after June, but a starter is needed until then.
Director Lee Kang-cheol came up with an unconventional plan.
Lee Chae-ho, Ju-won, and Kim Min-soo, who were active in the bullpen in the past, will challenge for selection.
Coach Lee introduced Pil Seung-jo, saying, “Son Dong-hyun and Lee Sang-dong have grown significantly, and Woo Gyu-min and Park Si-young (who recovered from surgery) have joined,” and added, “As the middle has become more solid, we will increase the number of pitches for players who can be used as starters.”
“I ordered them to train,” he said.
Min-soo Kim has 30 holds in the 2022 season, Chae-ho Lee has an ERA of 2.95 in 38 games in the 2022 season, and Ju-won is a key bullpen responsible for more than 20 holds each year from the 2019 season to the 2021 season.
The three players did not play their part last season due to injuries and poor performance.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol gave the three pitchers a chance to revive and suggested ways to utilize them as starters.
In addition, Kim Min and rookie pitchers Won Sang-hyeon and Yuk Cheong-myeong are competing.
Kim Min and Won Sang-hyun are fastball pitchers who throw fastballs in the 150km range.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol stuck out his tongue, saying, “Won Sang-hyun threw 150 km from his first bullpen.”
As for the 'left-handed bullpen' problem that left a mark last season, great expectations are placed on Park Se-jin and Jeon Yong-ju.
Park Se-jin, the younger brother of Lotte Giants Park Se-woong, is putting a smile on Coach Lee Kang-cheol's face by showing a different performance from previous years at spring camp.
Coach Lee said, “If even one of the two players establishes himself, it is expected to be of great help to the team.”
The starting pitcher is Park Young-hyun.
- Batting line strengthened with Rojas joining… Increasing mobility
The biggest change for KT in the new season is the revival of the central batting lineup.
KT suffered from an injury last season due to Kang Baek-ho, and Anthony Alford was disappointed as he failed to perform at the expected level.
However, this year, the team gained weight with the addition of Rojas, who won four batting awards in the 2020 season.
In the outfield, Kim Min-hyuk will play left field, Bae Jeong-dae will play center field, and Rojas will play right field.
Kang Baek-ho mainly plays as a designated hitter.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "We plan to use the center fielder with good base running ability as the number one hitter, and Kim Min-hyuk, who has good operational ability, mainly plays number two," and added, "If the cleanup of Rojas, Park Byeong-ho, and Kang Baek-ho plays their role, it will not be bad. "he said.
Third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun, catcher Jang Seong-woo, and shortstop Kim Sang-soo add strength in the bottom of the batting order.
Captain Park Kyung-soo, Lee Ho-yeon, and Cheon Seong-ho compete for second base.
In the summer, starting infielder Shim Woo-jun will be discharged from the military and join the team.
Director Lee Kang-cheol said, “I have high expectations for Shim Woo-jun.”
The reason Coach Lee mentioned Shim Woo-jun's name is because of the changing regulations for the new season.
The KBO League will change into an environment favorable to teams with good focus, such as increasing the size of the base for the new season.
This is disappointing for KT, which has few players with quick feet.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol said, "It's one of the reasons why I put Bae Jeong-dae as number 1," and added, "I think the addition of Shim Woo-jun will be effective in terms of mobility."
- “KS's pain has become a big medicine… The players' eyes have changed”
When asked about the atmosphere of spring camp, coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “It seems different from previous years.”
Coach Lee said, “Even if they don't say it out loud, the players seem to have a lot of regrets about the last KS,” adding, “In particular, senior players such as Park Byeong-ho are training extremely hard
. It seems like their desire to win has grown even more.”
KT won against LG in the first game of KS last year, but unfortunately lost the second and third games and eventually bowed out with 1 win and 4 losses.
The aftermath of missing the KS championship trophy lasted longer than expected.
However, KS's pain seems to have served as an opportunity to bring the KT players closer together.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol said, "The current team atmosphere is very good. Although the weather is colder than abroad, the training environment is not bad.
I have a good feeling about this year."
KT will train domestically until the 21st and then depart for Okinawa, Japan on the 23rd to hold a practice game.
After conducting a final inspection through a practice game, we will begin a demonstration game.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol's attention is focused on the opening game of the 2024 season against the Samsung Lions, which will be held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 23rd of next month.
When asked, ‘Have you decided on the starting team for the opening game?', Coach Lee responded by saying, “It's Samsung.”
This answer is keeping in mind 'Ace' Cuevas, who was particularly strong against Samsung.
Cuevas has many good memories against Samsung, such as starting the game against Samsung in the 2021 regular season first place game after two days of rest and leading the team to the win with 7 scoreless innings.
Last year, Coach Lee Kang-cheol announced early on that he would use 'natural enemy' Benjamin in the regular season opening game against LG on the first day of spring camp, and he won the opening game.
