Pitcher Im Ki-young and outfielder Lee Woo-sung are two of the pitchers and fielders who have had remarkable performances in the KIA Tigers 2023 season. They’ve been a big part of the team’s offense and defense, respectively. Lim Ki-young appeared in 64 games, posting a 4-4 record, 3 saves, 16 holds, and a 2.98 ERA with honors. He was the top pitcher on the team. Lee Woo-sung earned an honorable mention after hitting .400 with eight home runs, 58 RBI, 39 runs scored and eight stolen bases. It was his first career triple-double.
Both players made the leap to the main roster after their marriages as they found more stability in their lives and psychological well-being, as well as added responsibility. Im got married in 2020, showing off their lovebirds, and in the 2023 season, they had their first daughter. Lee Woo-sung got married in January 2022, saying, “I’m grateful to have found a spouse I deserve. I will try to make a positive change in my baseball life with marriage,” and he did.
Last December, three Tigers players tied the knot. Pitcher Jang Hyun-sik, 28, followed by outfielder Choi Won-jun, 26, and infielder Hwang Dae-in, 27, started a family. After three years of dating, Jang Hyun-sik said, “I am happy to spend the rest of my life with my beautiful and wise bride. 토토사이트 I will be a supportive husband at home and a reliable player on the mound,” he vowed.
Choi Won-jun, whose four-year relationship with his wife was introduced by an acquaintance
“Getting married gives me a lot of responsibility and expectations. As the head of the family, I will try to become a better person and a better baseball player,” he promised. Hwang Dae-in, whose bride is a former Tigers cheerleader, said, “Now that I have a family, I will continue my career with more responsibility.” All three players showed their commitment through marriage.
Jang Hyun-sik has the task of returning to his role as a reliable closer in the bullpen. The 2023 season was a bit of a slow start. In 56 appearances, he posted a 2-2 record, three saves, five holds, and a 4.06 ERA. In 2021, he appeared in 69 games and won 34 saves. He is 2-9 with a 1.65 WHIP. The strength of the pitching staff has diminished. This year, the right-handed bullpen, along with Jung Hae-young and Jeon Sang-hyun, will need to perform as well as they have this year.
Choi Won-jun returned from the disabled list in June 2023, but he didn’t live up to expectations. In 67 games and 274 at-bats, he hit just 2-for-5 with one home run, 23 RBI, 37 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and a .672 OPS. This was not the same Won-Joon Choi who hit 174 home runs in 2021 as a leadoff and outfielder. It was the after-effects of a shoulder injury that prevented him from preparing for the season. He injured his calf at the Guangzhou Asian Games and was unable to play, ending his season. In the new year, he is expected to be a healthy outfielder and contribute more than three triples and 30 stolen bases in the table-setting lineup.
First baseman Hwang Dae-in has been a roller coaster the past two seasons.
The young outfielder made the jump to the main roster in 2022 with 14 home runs and 91 RBIs in 524 at-bats, but his 2023 season saw him plummet to 2-for-1 with five home runs and 26 RBIs in 60 games and 199 at-bats. Injuries and poor play limited him to 113 days in the first team. 토토사이트 순위 Hwang Dae-in’s struggles led to first base risks and put a lot of pressure on the offense. He needs to return to the first base lineup this year to make the batting lineup stronger.
The KIA 2024 roster is far from complete. With two foreign starters and Kim Sun-bin’s free agent contract not finalized, the team is still considered a top-tier contender. They are competitive on the mound and in the offense. Add to that the rebound of the three players who have been struggling for KIA, and you have a strong team. It’s no exaggeration to say that the trio of newcomers holds the keys to KIA.