The march of 0 is finally over. Backup catcher Joo Hyo-sang got his first hit of the season.
KIA Joo Hyo-sang (26) started as the 9th catcher for the Gwangju Hanwha game on the 13th and recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats. At the end of the 3rd inning, which was 0-0, with no runners and no runners, Hanwha starting pitcher Jang Min-jae’s 139km high fastball with 2 pitches was pushed and dropped on the left line at the ball count of 1S.
It was the first hit of the season after 4 games and 8 at-bats. It was the first hit by a KIA catcher this season. On the other hand, main catcher Han Seung-taek scored 1 run in 13 at-bats in 17 at-bats in 7 games. With the catcher starting to hit before the opening 10 games had passed, the KIA catchers ended their streak of zero.
It is true that the batting order of catchers this season is the biggest Achilles heel of the KIA lineup. Compared to teams with large free agents, the weight of the KIA home is somewhat less. However, the KIA is trying to spend a season without trade by giving Han Seung-taek and Joo Hyo-sang enough opportunities to induce growth. That’s right from a long-term perspective.
In the case of Han Seung-taek, who was virtually guaranteed to be the starting pitcher this season, he is originally a catcher whose strength lies in defense rather than batting. He hasn’t been able to play as a starter, but his experience as a first-team backup has been quite long. On the other hand, Joo Hyo-sang is evaluated as having good batting potential as the 1st nominee for Kiwoom in 2016.
In the meantime, I was blocked by Lee Ji-young and Park Dong-won (LG), so I didn’t get many opportunities. For KIA, it is okay to actively use Joo Hyo-sang to boost the scoring power of the stagnant lineup with Na Seong-beom and Kim Do-young missing at the beginning of the season. Joo Hyo-sang has a batting average of 0.202, 2 homers and 36 RBIs in 241 games.
In particular, Joo Hyo-sang hit a series of pinch-hit ending hits against Gocheok Lotte on June 18, 2020, and against Gocheok SSG on June 19, when he was Kiwoom. Against Lotte, in the bottom of the 10th inning when the score was tied 2-2, Oh Hyun-taek’s slider was hit with one out and first base, and an RBI double hit the right fielder’s key. Against SSG the next day, in the bottom of the 9th inning, which was behind by 0-1, he attacked Ha Jae-hoon’s fastball with one out and bases loaded, and scored two RBIs and a finishing hit in the middle right.
This is the part where Joo Hyo-sang’s clutch ability and strong heart are revealed. Occasionally, a hitter gets two consecutive game-ending hits.카지노사이트 However, Joo Hyo-sang appeared as a pinch hitter in two consecutive games and scored the final hit. The latter, where he is suddenly brought in and ends the game, is a much more difficult task.
Apparently, Han Seung-taek will seize many opportunities in the KIA home this season. However, Joo Hyo-sang is definitely a lottery worth scratching for KIA. He is a catcher recruited by giving Kiwoom one 2024 rookie nomination right. The value of Joo Hyo-sang should not be overlooked.
