[KBO League] Teams that feel the need for a reliable professional first baseman, a common concern of the national team,온라인바카라
third baseman called ‘hot corner’, first baseman pays attention compared to shortstop and second baseman who have to ‘defense the center of the infield’ This is a position that does not receive Nevertheless, as the season goes on, any team will feel the need for a ‘professional first baseman’.
In addition to receiving the throw with a wide catch range, you need to find an appropriate position for smooth relay play. When a strange batting ball occurs in the infield or when a bunt defense needs to be shown, he directly participates in the defense. If you are not a professional first baseman, you can often see scenes leading to mistakes by making small mistakes.
According to Statties, a site specializing in KBO league records, only one player, Hwang Dae-in (KIA Tigers, 1041⅓ innings), played over 1000 innings as a first baseman last year. At least, the team with clear first basemen such as Oh Jae-il (Samsung Lions, 949 innings), Chae Eun-seong (then LG Twins, 935 innings), and Park Byeong-ho (kt Wiz, 873 innings) were on the good side. Because there were more teams than expected.
Last year’s winner-runner-up team was no exception.
Just looking at the ‘defending champion’ SSG Landers, last year’s fielder’s biggest concern was the first baseman. As foreign hitter Kevin Cron, who did not live up to expectations, was replaced midway through the season, it naturally became the share of domestic fielders.
In the end, Jeon Eui-san (played in 62 first baseman games, 477⅔ innings), who had no full-time season experience in the first team, had to take on the heavy responsibility. The emotional burden was so great that he shed tears in an away game against KT Wiz on August 26 last year when the defense did not work out the way he wanted. Although there are alternatives such as Choi Joo-hwan and Oh Tae-gon, none of them are professional first basemen.
Kiwoom Heroes, who finished runner-up in the Korean Series last year, had the same concerns. The player who played the most innings as a first baseman was Jeon Byung-woo, who only completed 512 innings. Compared to Hwang Dae-in, the ‘most inning first baseman’, he showed a difference of more than two times. As such, it was not easy to find a starting first baseman throughout the season.
NC Dinos, who hired Park Gun-woo as a free agent last winter and gave away Kang Jin-seong (Doosan Bears) as a compensation player, had a similar situation. It went differently from NC’s plan, which thought that there would be no great worries about Kang Jin-seong’s vacancy. Foreign hitter Nick Martini (397⅓ innings) relieved the burden a little, but committed 10 mistakes.
On the other hand, the team that reinforced the first base produced a successful result. In 2021, Doosan Bears, who lost Jae-il Oh to Samsung and recruited Seok-Hwan Yang through a trade, and last year, KT, who had a veteran first baseman, did that. When Kang Baek-ho, who was the starting first baseman the previous year, left for a long time due to injury, Park Byeong-ho, who was recruited as a free agent, took over the starting first baseman position.
If kt hadn’t recruited Park Byung-ho, it would have had a lot of trouble playing the season last year. The reason why the Hanwha Eagles recruited Chae Eun-seong, who can defend first base even while investing a total of 9 billion won this winter, is in a similar context.
Concerns of a professional first baseman that exists even in the national team The concerns of a first baseman are not unique to the team. Concerns were also revealed in the process of preparing for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) of the baseball team this year. A total of four first basemen included in the 50-person list of interest announced in November of last year were Chae Eun-seong, Kang Baek-ho, Oh Jae-il, and Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh Pirates).
There weren’t many players who could be called new faces. Park Byeong-ho, who was dropped from the interest list but was added to the final list, also participated in four international competitions in the past. As a result, it is inevitable to feel the vacancy of Lee Dae-ho and Kim Tae-gyun, who have been active as the national team’s first baseman for a long time.
Considering his age and other factors, Park Byung-ho, who will succeed the two players, is highly likely to have this year’s WBC as his last international event. Now, from the perspective of the national team, it is time to think about even after Park Byung-ho.
It is an ideal picture for Kang Baek-ho, who is entering his fourth season after transforming from an outfielder to a first baseman, to have a player to support him as he continues to play an active part in the national team. Performance in international competitions, such as the Asian Games and the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), where young players are given opportunities to compete, are important.
As a utility fielder, you might ask, if there’s a fielder who can defend first base, there won’t be much of a problem. However, whether it is a team or a national team, it is a matter to think about to minimize ‘variables’ in building a perfect power.