The cards are stacked against the void.
Kim Hye-sung, 24, of the Kiwoom Heroes, announced a major decision after the 2023 season. “I want to improve my skills and challenge (the big leagues) with dignity after the 2024 season,” he said, revealing his intention to challenge Major League Baseball (MLB).
Kim was drafted by Nexen (now Kiwoom) with the seventh overall pick in the second round of the 2017 KBO Draft. He played seven seasons before this season, but only appeared in 16 games in 2017, his rookie season, so he won’t be eligible to play overseas until after the 2023 season. If he completes the season next year, he will be eligible for MLB through the posting system (closed competitive bidding).
Another candidate has emerged to follow Kiwoom’s posting history. Signature hitter Lee Jung-hoo has already expressed his intention to enter the MLB through posting and is currently going through the necessary procedures. Before him, Kim Ha-seong (now with the San Diego Padres), Park Byung-ho (now with the KT Wiz), and Kang Jeong-ho all made it to the big leagues and earned big money for their teams.
Following in their footsteps, Kim Hye-sung is expected to be the next in line. Kim is an all-around infielder who can play both second base and shortstop. She was born in 1999, so she’s young enough to be in the big leagues.
The problem is that Kiwoom is facing a power vacuum due to the successive MLB entries of its main players. If Lee Jung-hoo’s move to the MLB is confirmed, Kiwoom will enter the 2024 season without one of its key outfielders. If Kim Hye-sung also leaves the country after the 2024 season, they will lose their core power for the second year in a row.
Gaps are inevitable. The team needs to think about how to minimize the losses, and they are already preparing their cards. Kiwoom is gradually preparing a ‘Plan B’. 보스토토 주소
First, Kiwoom immediately acquired veteran infielder Choi Joo-hwan (35) through this year’s revived secondary draft. Choi is a resource that Kiwoom has tried to acquire in the free agent (FA) market in the past. He can play both second base and first base, so he’ll be a valuable asset in 2024.
The team also reached out to an old acquaintance. The team informed Seo Geon-chang (34), who was released by the LG Twins after this season, of their intention to sign him. Seo previously played for the Heroes in 2014, hitting 201 hits and winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He was traded to LG during the 2021 season for team reasons, but Kiwoom would love to have him back.
Immediately, Kiwoom envisions the veterans holding down the fort for a year or two while a young infield prospect steps up. Amidst the complicated second base math that will come with Kim Hye-sung’s challenge, Kiwoom is already preparing for the future.