Byun Woo-hyeok (23, KIA Tigers), the ‘unfinished giant gun’ that failed to bloom at the Hanwha Eagles, started a home run from the first actual game after transferring.
On the 20th (hereafter Korean time), Byun Woo-hyeok started as a third baseman on the 7th in a practice game against the Korean WBC baseball team held at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and reported a home run in the 4th at-bat.
The game did not end until the middle of the match, perhaps because he was nervous against the national team. 안전놀이터In the first inning, a well-hit ball with two outs and a chance on first and third base was blocked by shortstop Oh Ji-hwan’s lake rain, and he swallowed regret by striking out in the third and fifth innings in a row.
Byun Woo-hyuk finally showed off his unique exciting swing in the 4th at-bat. He hit a solo home run against his teammate Eui-ri Lee on the mound. He was a big batted ball that could intuit a home run the moment he hit it. After stepping on the home plate, Byun Woo-hyuk entered the dugout and received an enthusiastic welcome from his new teammates.
Byun Woo-hyeok is a resource that has attracted attention as a right-handed hitter who will lead Hanwha since his joining. During his time at Bukil High School, he was recognized for his power and was delighted with the first selection of Seo Hanwha in the 2019 rookie draft. However, in the first year, he realized the high wall of a professional in the sluggishness of 29 games, 2.26 leagues, 1 home run and 2 RBIs, and after fulfilling his military service duty as a managing director, he moved to KIA through a trade in November of last year. In the 2022 season, he also failed to break the egg with a batting average of 2.26, 2.3 and 3 home runs in 21 games.
Byun Woo-hyeok, along with Hwang Dae-in and Kim Seok-hwan, is being discussed as the successor to Choi Hyung-woo at this spring camp. KIA coach Kim Jong-guk recently met with reporters and demanded the efforts of the first nomination prospect, saying, “Byeon Woo-hyuk now needs to improve his skills.”
The prospects are bright. Since his amateur days, he has been evaluated that he is not pushed anywhere with his own strength, and he quickly resolves his military service, creating an environment where he can focus only on baseball at the young age of 23. And on this day, he even hit a home run, further revealing his prospects for his first season at KIA.
After the game, Byun Woo-hyuk said, “It’s been a real fight for the first time in six months, and I have to deal with good pitchers, so I came into the game with the thought of seeing a lot of balls without being greedy.” After striking out in the at-bat, I asked coach Lee Bum-ho for advice in the dugout. The coach advised, ‘It seems like they are chasing the ball. said the secret.
Regarding the moment of the home run, he said, “I think it led to a good result by thinking about coach Lee Bum-ho’s advice on the lost pitch. I felt like I passed it as soon as I got hit.”
Byun Woo-hyuk promised, “I still have little practical experience and am lacking in many areas, but I am receiving a lot of technical and mental help from the coaching staff. I will work harder to become a good player with this camp as an opportunity.”