The Kiwoom Heroes have repeatedly recruited players who were released by other teams this winter, drawing attention. Outfielder Kang Jin-seong (31) of the team on Oct. 11, outfielder Kim Dong-yup (34) of the team on Nov. 4, bullpen pitcher Jang Pil-joon (36) of the team on Nov. 5, and Oh Sun-jin (35) of the team on Nov. 17. All of them are players who have been released.
Kiwoom has played the last two seasons (2023-2024) under the rebuilding system. It gave away its main players to other teams and collected rookie nominations for the upper round. In the 2025 draft held in September, six players were selected by the third round. He was determined to take another leap forward in the 2026 season when young players grow up and ace Ahn Woo-jin returns.
The direction seems to have changed this winter. Veteran Choi Joo-hwan, born in 1988, and catcher Kim Jae-hyun, who was a bench member for more than 10 years since joining the team, signed multi-year contracts as non-free agents, respectively. Despite this, the team successively recruited players in their 30s or older who were unable to renew contract with their teams.
Kiwoom confirmed the growth potential of young players through the rebuilding system. However, the team ranked at the bottom (10th) for the second consecutive season. Following Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-sung (San Francisco Giants), the Korean pro baseball team is also targeting the big league, raising concerns over possible drop in their skills. Eventually, the team started transfusion of “immediate power” to push for rebuilding and “Win-now” at the same time. The expectation also reflected the expectation that veteran players will become role models for young players in their early and mid-20s.
He also argued for practical benefits. Kiwoom already had a reliever in his late 30s at a low cost. In November 2020, he had Lee Yong-kyu, who is approaching his late 30s. He hit 0.296 in the 2021 season, playing the role of leading off the lineup. In November 2022, he signed with bullpen pitcher Lim Chang-min. He served as Kiwoom’s closing pitcher for the second half of the 2023 season. 토토사이트
Kiwoom signed two free agents (Lee Hyung-jong and Won Jong-hyun) before the 2023 season, but neither of them had any effect as they suffered from both injuries. Lee Yong-kyu and Lim Chang-min, who were determined to make a comeback on the brink, showed better performances than most free agents. Kiwoom seeks efficiency compared to investment again. Jang Pil-joon and Oh Sun-jin’s salary for the 2025 season is 40 million won, the lowest.
