“I’m working really hard. I don’t see it as an aging curve.”
Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop’s biggest concern in the second half is Kim Jae-hwan’s bat, which seldom wakes up. Kim Jae-hwan has not shown the expected destructive power at all with a batting average of 0.224 (65 hits in 290 bats), 8 homers, 33 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.686 in 89 games since the opening.토토사이트
Doosan finished ninth in the regular league last year and failed to advance into the postseason because of Kim Jae-hwan’s sluggish performance. Kim Jae-hwan had a batting average of 0.248 in the 2022 season (111 hits in 448 at-bats), 23 homers, 72 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.800, which did not match the value of the name.
Coach Lee Seung-yeop sent infinite trust to Kim Jae-hwan at the spring camp in Sydney, Australia in February, revealing his intention to fix Kim Jae-hwan as the 4th hitter for the 2023 season. “Our team’s key player is Kim Jae-hwan. If Kim Jae-hwan lives, Doosan’s lineup can have tremendous explosive power,” he said, putting his hopes on Kim Jae-hwan’s performance.
Kim Jae-hwan’s start this season wasn’t bad. He got off to a good start with a batting average of 0.271 (19 hits in 70 at-bats), 2 homers, 10 RBIs and an OPS of 0.850 in 23 games in April. Although he is cautious, he has accepted the report card, which is enough to look forward to the ‘resurrection’.
However, in May 21 games, batting average 0.239 (17 hits in 71) 4 homers, 6 RBIs, OPS 0.659, and in June 24 games, batting average 0.250 (19 hits in 76), 3 homers, 10 RBIs, OPS 0.747, did not show a particularly impressive appearance.
In July, he fell into a severe slump with a batting average of 0.176 (9 hits in 51 at-bats), 2 homers, 7 RBIs and an OPS of 0.633 in 14 games, and in August, he is bowing his head with a batting average of 0.045 (1 hits in 22 at-bats) in 7 games. Some raise the possibility of an aging curve for Kim Jae-hwan, who was born in 1988 and is in his mid-30s.
Prior to the match against Samsung in Jamsil on the 8th, coach Lee Seung-yeop said, “Kim Jae-hwan is currently training hard every day with hitting coach Goto. I don’t want to see it as an aging curve, but it is too early for that.” If I hit just one ball, I think I will definitely be able to rebound.”
Doosan has to focus on recovery for the time being as Yang Eui-ji, who is considered to be half of the team’s power, will be canceled from the first team due to a side muscle injury. It is expected that it will take a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 3 weeks to return. Naturally, the weight of the other line is inevitably reduced.
Doosan is in 5th place, one game behind 3rd place NC and 4th place KT. In order to build a stable multiplier and leap to the top, it is essential for hitters to exert themselves. It is all the more so because we are being chased by 6th place KIA by 1.5 games, so we cannot be optimistic about advancing to the final 5.
Director Lee Seung-yeop also said, “With Yang Eui-ji missing for the time being, Kim Jae-hwan really has to do it. I hope you give me the swing you can give,” he emphasized.
He continued, “If Kim Jae-hwan is missing here, it becomes even more difficult. Trusting and entrusting Kim Jae-hwan means respecting the player’s ability and career, and I think he still has the ability.” Of course (grades) will drop, and of course, if that happens, the responsibility lies with me (as a manager).”