[영종도=스포츠한국 이정철 기자] Prospective big leaguer Kim Hye-seong (25, Kiwoom Heroes) was looking forward to a clash with the highest-priced major league right-handed starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25, LA Dodgers).
The Kiwoom squad returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal 2 on the 6th. The spring camp held in Arizona, USA and Kaohsiung, Taiwan between January 29 and 5 was completed.
Hyeseong Kim. ⓒ Korean Sports Correspondent Lee Jeong-cheol
Kim Hye-seong, who announced her intention to challenge for the Premier League after the 2024 season, also appeared at Incheon International Airport. Hye-seong Kim played well last year with a 0.335 batting average (186 hits in 556 at-bats), 7 home runs, 57 RBI, and 104 runs. He ranked high in every batting category, including 3rd in batting average, 2nd in most hits, and 2nd in runs scored.
Kim Hye-seong has a wide defensive range and a stable defensive ability in her main position, the second center. He also had speed fast enough to win the stolen base title in the 2021 season. He plans to challenge the big leagues as a complete fielder with three beats: ball, pitch, and pass.
In this situation, Kim Hye-seong will face the LA Dodgers, who are participating in the Seoul Series, at 12 PM on the 17th. This is a great opportunity to make your name known in the major leagues.
Regarding his challenge to the Premier League, Hye-seong Kim said, “I had a meal with (Lee) Jeong-hoo in the US and asked him about the process and experience of his challenge to the Premier League Alliance. In addition to this, I thought a lot while listening to advice from people around me. “(2024 season) I plan to play baseball as usual rather than make any major changes,” he said.
He continued, “Specifically, I want to increase my on-base percentage as a plus this season. That will help our team. “My biggest thought is to get on base, run, and score points,” he added.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. ⓒAFPBBNews = News1
Regarding the game against the Dodgers, Kim Hye-seong said, “I want to meet all the (Dodgers) players. “I want to deal especially with Yamamoto, who joined the Dodgers this time,” he said, looking forward to meeting Yamamoto.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto is the best pitcher in Japan since 2021, winning four awards as a pitcher (multiple wins, earned run average, strikeouts, winning percentage) for three consecutive years unmatched in Japanese professional baseball , and won MVP for three consecutive years for the first time in 27 years since Ichiro Suzuki. Last December, he signed a massive 12-year contract worth $325 million (about 434 billion won) with the Dodgers and entered the big leagues.
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