KIA wants a strong third baseman like hitting coach Lee Beom-ho.
KIA infielder Ryu Ji-hyeok (29) has been a talented player who has played all infield positions since his days at Doosan. The one-on-one trade with Hong Kun-hee in 2020 is a win-win as a result. At the time, there were also opinions that Doosan was sacrificing young multiplayer too easily.
However, Ryu Ji-hyeok only played a total of 117 games in 2020 and 2021. Injuries were frequent. The former manager highly evaluated his ability to apply platoon with Hwang Dae-in at first base, but his dream of a full-time starter remained hopeful as he failed to prove his health.
So the 2022 season was a meaningful year for Ryu Ji-hyuk. This is because he has made the leap to the starting third baseman. In the first place,메이저놀이터 it was classified as a multi-backup. However, super rookie Kim Do-young had difficulty adapting to the first team, and Ryu Ji-hyeok took over the vacant position and took over as the starting third baseman. He posted a batting average of 0.274, 2 homers, 48 RBIs, 55 runs, and an OPS of 0.715 in 127 games.
It is unclear whether Ryu Ji-hyeok will become the owner of the KIA Hot Corner for the second year in a row. Starting from the Arizona spring camp in February, he will face fierce challenges from his juniors. First of all, last year’s infield multi-backup Kim Do-young challenges the full-time starter again. As much as his potential, Kim Do-young is still known as the previous level. As much as he suffered growing pains in his first professional season, if he shows a change this year, there is a good chance that he will push Ryu Ji-hyuk out and take over as the starting third baseman.
In addition, Geopo prospect Byun Woo-hyuk also joins the competition for the starting third baseman. He is a player who gave up fireballer Han Seung-hyeok (Hanwha). He has not shown anything in the first team yet, but he is a player who believed in his potential as a giant gun and boldly recruited him. Inclusion on the Arizona camp roster means giving him a chance to compete in the first team.