Will the Ho-Ryung Zone work this year?
Kim Ho-ryung (32) of the KIA Tigers is known for his defensive prowess. On April 2 last year, he made a spectacular catch in the second inning of the opening game against the SSG Landers that went into right-center field. The catch was so good that jaws dropped. But that’s all the fans remembered. That was the only performance fans remembered.
As a rookie in 2015, Kim was picked up by manager Kim Ki-tae and made 103 appearances in 2018. “If he can hit, he will be a special outfielder,” Kim said. Although he only hit 2.1 p.a., his defense and ability to chase down balls was genius. In 2016, he became the starting center fielder. He played in 124 games and had 514 at-bats. He batted .266 with eight doubles, eight home runs, 41 RBI, 72 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, and a .706 OPS.
He was on the rise, but in 2017, 바카라사이트 he had to step down from his starter’s spot: free agent outfielder Choi Hyung-woo joined the team, new outfielder Roger Bernadina came in, and Myung-ki Lee was acquired in a trade. Choi was the No. 4 hitter on the roster. Bernadina batted .322 with 27 home runs, 111 RBIs, 118 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases with honors. Kim Ho-ryung was better defensively, but he was no match at the plate.
He settled in as a backup.
He started occasionally, but specialized in catching and pinch-hitting. In the 2017 championship, Iggy moved to center field late in the game and Bernadina moved to right field. Their defense helped them win the title. She even coined the phrase “whistle zone” to describe her vast defensive range, but her bat didn’t make a business card.
His most at-bats in the next five years were 138 in 2020. From the 2022 season, the spot was still cramped as free agent Na Sung-beom joined the team. In 2023, he only had 107 at-bats, but he hit 1-for-7 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, one stolen base, and a .503 OPS. It was his worst performance since joining the organization. Twice he disappeared from the first team for extended periods of time, 22 days and 43 days, respectively. He became less useful.
The 2024 season is no better.
The outfield is full. Na Seong-beom and Socrates Brito are the two stalwarts. Competing for a spot in the outfield are Lee Woo-seong, who hit .325 last year, as well as Choi Won-jun, Ko Jong-wook, Lee Chang-jin, Kim Ho-ryung, Kim Seok-hwan, and Park Jung-woo. Choi Won-jun, who had 174 hits in the 2021 season, will try to play the outfield full-time this year. Lee Woo-sung is the main outfielder, although he also plays first base. The younger Park Jung-woo, 26, has a strong arm and quick feet and is a backup contender. Kim Seok-hwan, who hasn’t been labeled a prospect, is also desperate to compete.
For Kim, the biggest crisis has come. That’s why he participated in the Okinawa finalization camp in November last year. He has been working hard to improve his hitting ability. He is an indispensable backup for managers. Even if he was asked to be traded, 토토사이트 순위 he was untradeable. His defense and baserunning are still competitive. If the KIA is to challenge for the top spot this year, they will need him. He’s in his eighth year and will be 32 in April. He hits well, runs well, and catches well. Fans are still rooting for him.