Kiwoom Heroes coach Hong Won-ki (50) showed leadership by caring for foreign players and their families.
On the 19th (Korean time), coach Hong Won-ki visited foreign pitchers Eric Yokishi (34), Ariel Furado (27), and infielder Edison Russell (29) and their families after completing Kiwoom spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. Invited to have dinner together.
Kiwoom replaced all foreign players except Yokishi this winter to challenge for the championship this season. Yokishi, who joined Kiwoom in 2019, succeeded in renewing the contract for the 2023 season and rose to the ranks of longevity. He played in 118 games in his KBO career, recorded 51 wins and 33 losses with an earned run average of 2.71, and has been the center of Kiwoom’s mound.
Furado, from Panama, is a right-handed fireballer with an attractive fastball of 155km/h. Not only that, but he is evaluated to have a stable pitching form and excellent control while using various breaking balls such as slider, curveball, and changeup.
Russell is a player familiar to Kiwoom fans. Debuting in the KBO League as a substitute for Taylor Motor in 2020, he recorded a batting average of 0.254 (62 hits in 244 bats), 2 homers, 22 points and 31 RBIs in 65 games. After that, he failed to renew the contract, but he was called again by Kiwoom, wielding a strong blow in the Mexican League. 카지노사이트
According to Kiwoom, coach Hong Won-ki had a meal with foreign players and gave them encouragement and good wishes along with the order, “Please do your best this season.” He is also known to have shared unusual stories, such as listening to the concerns of foreign players and their families.
Manager Hong said, “Anyway, there are restrictions on communication with foreign players, so it is difficult to share what is in the heart comfortably. I created this place because I thought I would need time to listen to their concerns and thoughts ahead of the season.” It was more meaningful to hear the stories of the families who attended.”
This isn’t the first place like this. Like an annual event, Kiwoom brought a special place for coaches and foreign players as an encouragement whenever spring camps were held abroad before Corona 19. Kiwoom is the first event for coach Hong, who took the baton from the 2021 season after 3 years since 2019.