KIA Tigers’ plan for the new season. It deserves a happy smile on the plus factor. This is because outfielder Choi Won-joon (25), who is serving military service at Sangmu, can join the team after being discharged in June next year.

Choi Won-joon’s bat, who wore a Sangmu uniform and played in the Futures (2nd division) league this year, was ‘fraudulent’. He had a batting average of 3.8 and 2.2 (124 hits in 325 at-bats) in 92 games, with 6 home runs and 73 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .509, and a slugging percentage of .511. The Futures, to which Sangmu belongs, ranks first in batting average, hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and second in RBIs in the Southern League. The Futures League was a narrow stage to show all the experience accumulated as an outfielder in the KIA 1st team before enlistment.

Choi Won-joon is an all-rounder beast. He is good at batting and running base play, as well as excellent contact ability on offense. He has a wide range of defense using his quick feet. Since 2020, Choi Won-joon has established himself as KIA’s main leadoff and center fielder.

After Choi Won-joon enlisted, 메이저사이트 KIA’s lead-off position was the ‘Spring and Autumn Warring States Period’. When rookie Kim Do-yeong (19), who was used as the lead-off in the opening game, was sluggish, Park Chan-ho (27) took over the role, and Ryu Ji-hyeok (28) was given the opportunity in the second half.

In terms of batting and running, Park Chan-ho is the most ideal leadoff, but it is difficult to complete full-time because it is a shortstop position with a heavy defensive burden. KIA also took this into consideration and sought a breakthrough by placing Park Chan-ho at number 9, the top hitter’s link. Ryu Ji-hyeok is attractive because he can produce not only excellent contact but also mid- to long-distance hits, but his bat has ups and downs and his speed lags somewhat. Entering the second year, Kim Do-young’s priority is to prove that he has improved his skills to participate in the main competition. However, each of the three players has a clear method for using each element. If Choi Won-joon continues this year’s flow until he is discharged, there is a possibility of using a lead-off after joining KIA.

This year, Socrates Brito (30) was the main player and Kim Ho-ryeong (31) was the backup for the KIA center fielder position. Socrates has excellent batting ability to be responsible for a spot in the center lineup, but there was a disappointment in terms of throwing. Kim Ho-ryeong was better than Socrates in terms of defense, but the problem was that he failed to blossom both in batting and running. Next year, Socrates, who accompanies him, will keep the center fielder position, and Na Seong-beom will play right fielder, while Choi Won-joon may be placed in the remaining left fielder position. However, depending on whether Choi Won-joon is active or not, a situation where he and Socrates switch seats may occur. In addition to Kim Ho-ryeong, KIA has abundant outfield depth such as Lee Chang-jin (31) Lee Woo-seong (28) Go Jong-wook (28) Kim Seok-hwan (23), so they can use them evenly to find a new path.