Kim Hye-sung is gone, Jo Sang-woo is gone...Director Hong Won-ki said, "I thought a lot about how to fill the gap."

Kim Hye-sung is gone, Jo Sang-woo is gone...Director Hong Won-ki said, "I thought a lot about how to fill the gap."

Blog Article

Last year's winning rate was high, but it was the lowest for the second consecutive year."

The Kiwoom Heroes are dreaming of a rebound in the upcoming 2025 season. They are trying to shake off the disappointment of staying at the bottom for two consecutive years after finishing second in the Korean Series in the 2022 season.스포츠토토

Last year, Kiwoom recorded 58 wins and 86 losses overall in the season. Although the winning rate exceeded 40 percent amid the all-time ranking battle, the disgrace of being the lowest in the league has not changed.

During the off-season, the team suffers heavy losses. Infielder Kim Hye-sung left the team after signing a posting system (closed competitive bidding) contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Major League. Cho Sang-woo, who firmly secured the back door, sent the team to the KIA Tigers after receiving 1 billion won in cash and the first and fourth rounds of the "2026 KBO League Rookie Draft."

There are holes in several pitching lineup. Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki's head hurts even more with the new season's plan.

"I have a very rich dream as it is a new start," Hong told reporters before departing for Incheon International Airport on Sunday. "I am very excited," he said. "I thought a lot about many things during the offseason. Last year's winning rate was high, but it was the lowest for the second consecutive year. I also spent a lot of time devising various ideas about whether I should fill the void because Kim Hye-sung and Jo Sang-woo were absent."

The infield without Kim Hye-sung will be reconstructed with Song as the mainstay. Hong asked Song for a double position that can be used for both second and third bases. "It is not a situation where we can say that a certain player has a position," he said. "Song readily accepted the direction of (double position). Player also agreed to renew his career high. I think we need to prepare for the camp first."

The closing pitcher has high expectations on Joo, who recorded 14 saves last year. When Jo Sang-woo left the team due to an injury last season, he took responsibility for the back door of his team and displayed impressive pitching performance. "He adapted well to the closing pitcher last year. Also, seeing his potential for improvement, I think Joo should take responsibility for the back door," he said.

Kiwoom's Kim Hye-sung and Cho Sang-woo, who should take the center stage in the pitching, have left, but they are trying to change the atmosphere with an unconventional challenge.

He is the only team among the 10 teams in the KBO League to use two foreign hitters. The main characters are Yasiel Puig and Ruben Cardinez, who have strong punch power. He is committed to overcoming the management of his team's batters, which had been agonizing over last year's team's home run (104 home runs) and the lowest slugging percentage (0.380).

Hong said, "I invested to a certain extent because I had a bad result in my offense last year. I chose the team to display more slugging and scoring ability. Foreign hitters need to cheer up to achieve the result."

The starting lineup, which has only one foreign pitcher, Kenny Rosenberg, said, "Ha Young-min experienced full-time selection last year. I'm worried because it's my second year, but I think he prepared a lot in the winter. Kim Yun-ha also had ups and downs last year, but she adapted better than I thought. The rest of the players, if they have a healthy competition, I think new players will definitely come out."

Kiwoom will hold its first spring camp in Arizona, the U.S.A. Afterwards, the team will move to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where it will have a showdown with a local team in Taiwan, to elevate its sense of actual play.

Will Kiwoom, who dreams of rebounding in the offseason, be able to produce the results they want.