The potential of Hanwha Eagles outfielder Jang Jin-hyuk (31) is bursting to his heart’s content. Kang Min-ho, a national catcher and Samsung Lions catcher, was accurate.
Jang Jin-hyuk started the game against the Doosan Bears in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 23rd and played 4 hits (one home run), 4 RBIs, 1 walk, and 1 run in 4 at-bats.
He played on the fifth base, setting a personal record of getting on base. The previous record was four on base (four hits in five at-bats) recorded in the match against Changwon NC Dinos on Sept. 26, 2019.
It was quite unusual from the start. With Chae leading 1-0 in the top of the first inning due to a sacrifice fly, Jang took the batter’s box with two outs and runners on the first and third bases. He hit a 132-km splitter that entered the fifth pitch of Doosan starter Shirakawa to draw a three-run arch over the right fence. This is his ninth season with a flying distance of 110 meters.
He has only one left for his first 10 home runs since his debut.
Although the score did not lead to a run, Jang also had a hit to the left in the top of the third inning with one out and runners on the first base. He also had a timely hit to center field with one out and runners on the third base in the top of the fifth inning when his team was leading 5-1. Already, three hits have been played.
Jang was still hungry. In the top of the seventh inning when his team lost the game 6-1, he hit a right-handed hit off Jeong Cheol-won, who had changed from one out to the first base. He seemed to complete a four-hit game.
He came out as a leadoff hitter in the top of the ninth inning with a 7-4 lead and drew a straight walk to create a game on the fifth base.
Including the game on the day, he marked a batting average of 0.266 (54 hits in 203 at-bats) with nine homers and 36 RBIs this season.
Jang Jin-hyuk, who met after the game, smiled, saying, “I think it’s a life game.”
“I’ve been feeling okay lately. I’m trying to keep it steady,” he said. “After last season, I thought about what I lacked, and I tried to make a strong swing on the advantageous count that I can hit.”
Jang, who graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School and Dankook University, was nominated by Hanwha in 2016 as the 39th overall pick in the second round of the fourth round. He made his debut in the first division under the influence of Han Yong-deok, who took office in 2018.
In 2019, when he was in his second year, he showed his potential by batting .254 with one home run, 24 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of 0.320 OPS of 0.666, but he failed to rise as he fell to the 10% level the following year.
Eventually, he joined the military after the end of the 2020 season. He returned in 2022, but did not have any impact. However, he clearly had a chance to grow in Gongsu-ju, and the coaches who served with Hanwha also gave Jang a chance, but failed to make it.
There was a player who noticed Jang Jin-hyuk. It was catcher Kang Min-ho. Kang talked about Jang Jin-hyuk on offseason Hanwha legend Kim Tae-kyun’s YouTube channel. He cited Jang as a good looking player in the Hanwha Eagles, excluding Noh Si-hwan and Moon Dong-ju.
Kang Min-ho said, “I always said when he (Jang Jin-hyuk) comes out. ‘Hey, smile. Do it with a smile.’ Jang is always quiet. I said, ‘If you smile, you will be good at baseball.'” 토토사이트
The story Kang Min-ho told also went into Jang Jin-hyuk’s ears.
Jang Jin-hyuk recalled, “My mental part has changed compared to before. I’m not going to work hard. I was very anxious inside. I heard that I was old after I was discharged from the military. I think it was difficult because I didn’t go straight out of the game, but I fell in the middle repeatedly.”
Against this backdrop, Kang Min-ho’s story was of great help. “It helped me gain confidence. It was an opportunity to smile when I met him at the ballpark,” Jang said with a smile. “He doesn’t say much at the game. He tells me to smile or wink.”
Jang Jin-hyuk is calm even though he is about to make his first 10 home runs.
“Even after a good day like this, baseball doesn’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m not thinking about 10 home runs. I really don’t overreact and try to do my best at that moment,” he stressed.
