2023 is a cruel year for genius hitters.
Currently, the players receiving the modifier genius hitter in the KBO League vary depending on opinion, but they are generally summarized as Lee Jeong-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes) and Kang Baek-ho (24, KT Wiz). Since becoming a pro in 2017 and 2018, he has shown off an extraordinary swing and exceptional hitting, and has only played elite courses.
But 2023 is cruel. It had great significance for Lee Jeong-hoo as it was his final season before advancing to the major leagues. I had a strong desire to leave with Kiwoom winning its first Korean Series championship. Kang Baek-ho’s batting graph has been gradually declining recently, so it was a season in need of a turnaround. Above all, since KT’s power is at the top, they must have dreamed of winning for the first time in two years.온라인카지노
As a result, I cried because of my injuries. Lee Jeong-hoo broke his ankle on the irregular outfield grass while watching defense against the Lotte Giants in Busan on July 22 and had to undergo surgery on his extensor band. He made a dramatic return as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning of the final home game against the Samsung Lions on the 10th, but it was only for fan service. The moment Lee Jeong-hoo’s ankle broke, Kiwoom’s entire season was completely broken. After that, the team’s plan changed.
Kang Baek-ho failed to rebound this year as well. In 71 games, batting average 0.265, 8 home runs, 39 RBIs, 32 runs, OPS 0.763. Although he is strong in the scoring range with 0.345, he cannot fill the weight of Kang Baek-ho to take comfort in this. Last year, his batting average was 0.245 with 6 home runs and 29 RBI.
Moreover, controversies outside of baseball continued to arise within the national team. It became a hot topic as issues outside of his physical range arose due to his poor performance for two consecutive years. Still, he played well at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Although he was sluggish in the beginning of the competition, he performed well in the middle of the competition and led the national team to winning the gold medal. Even after returning to KT, his batting skills improved, raising expectations for his postseason.
Lee Jeong-hoo will still be upgraded to a major leaguer. Even though injuries are unfortunate this season, an unforgettable highlight film is coming to the individual. However, Kang Baek-ho, whose postseason is his last chance to regain honor, injured his right medial oblique muscle during a self-practice game on the 26th.
Although the exact extent of his injury is unknown, the torn medial oblique muscle usually requires a recovery period of two to three weeks. They are unconditionally excluded from the playoff entry against NC Dinos starting on the 30th. What I’m curious about is the Korean Series, which will be held from the 7th to the 15th of next month. If KT advances to the Korean Series, the best scenario is if he undergoes a miraculous rehabilitation and is included in the entry list and plays as a pinch hitter.
However, it is also expected to be challenging. This is because his oblique muscle injury will only heal if he rests and does not play baseball. If he has to rest for three weeks, it seems difficult for him to even enter the Korean Series. It seems inevitable that the final entry for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship, which will be held from the 16th of next month, will also change.Can we expect a miracle November from Kang Baek-ho? KT is going through a difficult postseason.