Medical End KIA, But Why Has ML 88 Home Runs Not Been announced yet
Dec 25, 2024
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The KIA Tigers will soon announce the contract details with new foreign hitter Patrick Wisdom (33). All medical tests conducted in the United States have been completed, and only cross-validation processes remain in Korea. According to KIA officials, the timing of the announcement was slightly delayed due to the Christmas holiday, but if cross-verification does not find any special abnormalities, he will confirm his company next season.
It was on the 15th (Korea Standard Time) that the U.S. media first announced the agreement between KIA and Wisdom. KIA invested more than 10 days to thoroughly check Wisdom's physical condition. This is due to the painful memory of bringing Will Crow (30), who has an injury history, to a total of $1 million (about 1.4 billion won) ahead of this season. Crowe took the mound in only eight games this year and complained of elbow pain, and eventually broke up with KIA as he took the surgery table.
KIA general manager Shim Jae-hak thoroughly conducted medical tests this year, not only new foreign players but also pitcher Cho Sang-woo (30), who was acquired in a surprise trade with Kiwoom Heroes. KIA recruited Cho Sang-woo on the 19th and conducted an MRI examination on the right shoulder and elbow area at Sejong Sports Orthopedic Surgery on the 20th, a day later, "There are no specific findings." was answered. Cho Sang-woo was not on the mound after August due to shoulder pain, so it was a natural verification procedure.
Wisdom is a big shot that KIA picked after risking breaking up with the existing foreign hitter Socrates Brito (32). Socrates accompanied KIA for three seasons from 2022 to this year, recording 409 games, a batting average of 0.302 (487 hits in 1,613 at-bats), 63 home runs and 270 RBIs. He also contributed to KIA's overall victory this season by batting .310 (171 hits in 552 at-bats), 26 homers and 97 RBIs. Nevertheless, KIA decided that it needed a more powerful foreign hitter to win for the second consecutive year, and decided to recruit Wisdom after consideration.
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Wisdom is planning to add weight to the KIA's slugging line where Kim Do-young (21), Na Sung-bum (35) and Choi Hyung-woo (41). Wisdom made his major league debut in 2018 for the st. Louis Cardinals. He was a promising player in the first round of the 2012 draft, but it took him a while to see the light. Wisdom, who moved to the Chicago Cubs in 2020 after playing for the Texas Rangers, has been in its prime since 2021. With 28 home runs in 2021, 25 home runs in 2022, and 23 home runs in 2023, he has achieved 20 home runs in the big leagues for three consecutive years. This year, he turned to Korea with a batting average of 0.171 (27 hits in 158 times at bat), eight home runs, 23 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.629, but the title of 88 home run hitter in the Major League is enough to give pressure to the KBO League.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho watched Wisdom's batting video and said, "He is a player with swing speed. I don't know if there were a lot of strikeouts in the U.S., but in the case of breaking balls thrown by pitchers in Korea, it may be noticeable, so I think if you adapt well, you should perform well enough" he also said.
Assuming that KIA will set the infield as its best next year, a picture of 'third baseman Kim Do-young, shortstop Park Chan-ho, second baseman Kim Sun-bin, first baseman Wisdom' will be drawn. KIA decided that it was better to play as a first baseman than an outfielder because it recruited Wisdom with weight on its firepower.
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rina1130@sportschosun.com
