“I need to check more.”
토토사이트Samsung Lions One Clubman outfielder Kim Hun-gon started at third base and designated hitter against the Lotte Future Team in the 2023 KBO Futures League at Sangdong Stadium on Nov. 31. It was the first start of the season for Kim, who made his first real appearance of the season as a pinch-hitter in a game on Nov. 27 after missing much of the season due to a back injury.
He went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and a run scored, helping Samsung to an 8-5 victory. He was replaced by Song Jun-seok in the final inning. After going 0-for-2 as a substitute on the 27th, he had two cool hits today.
Samsung’s Kim Hun-gon. Photo by Chun Jeong-hwan
Samsung head coach Park Jin-man. Photo by Kim Young-gu
Samsung manager Park Jin-man, who met with Kim before the team’s game against KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Nov. 31, was also kept informed of Kim’s condition.
Park said, “He’s played two games for the Futures now. I’ve been checking his physical condition, and I’m getting all the reports. However, he hasn’t trained much this season. I think I need to check him more,” Park said cautiously.
Kim, who was drafted by Samsung in the fifth round, 36th overall, in 2011 after graduating from Gyeongbuk Joong, Jeju Tourism High School, and Yeungnam University, has played for Samsung without a single transfer, except for his time in the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Commerce). In 777 games with Samsung, he has a career batting average of .269 with 600 hits, 36 home runs, 268 RBIs and 285 runs scored.
He had a career-high season in 2018, batting .300 with 154 hits, 11 home runs, 71 RBIs, 77 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases in 141 games, marking his first career triple-double and triple-digit hits. He followed that up with another nearly triple-digit batting average and triple-digit RBIs in 2019.
However, after struggling in 2020 and 2021, Kim batted just .192 with 18 doubles, one home run, and 20 RBIs in 80 games last season. He started the season as captain, but was relieved of his duties midway through the season due to his continued slump, which was compounded by an ignominious 43-game hitting streak. He didn’t even apply for free agency.
Starting tomorrow (Sept. 1), expanded rosters will be implemented, with five more players per team, allowing teams to field 33 first-team rosters instead of 28.