10.5 billion FA That's why I sent it boldly...16 Years of Waiting Talent, Genius Shortstop Successor Should We Rock The Infield
Jan 18, 2025
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This is what Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop said. Doosan has two big holes in the infield ahead of this season. First, Huh Kyung-min, who was the team's flagship third baseman, moved his team this winter by signing a four-year contract with KT for a total of 4 billion won. Huh Kyung-min seemed to remain a one-club man by signing a 4+3 year contract with Doosan for a total of 8.5 billion won four years ago, but chose to transfer without executing the player option after the four-year and 6.5 billion won contract was over. After moving to KT, Heo Kyung-min raised the FA ransom to 10.5 billion won for eight years.
In a situation where Heo Kyung-min's vacancy was large, even Kim Jae-ho announced his retirement. Doosan has spent two seasons without its main shortstop since Lee's inauguration. Coach Lee wanted to become a new shortstop by giving Lee Yoo-chan, Ahn Jae-seok (military service), Park Gye-beom, and Park Joon-young one after another, but no one took the place, and eventually, he had no choice but to lean on Kim Jae-ho from the middle of the season. Now, as Kim Jae-ho, who was like a support, took off his uniform, he took on the task of finding a real new team's flagship shortstop.
Coach Lee had a lot of worries about the composition of the infield before leaving for Sydney, Australia, the first spring camp training site on the 24th. The first baseman fixed Yang Seok-hwan as it was, but moved Kang Seung-ho, who was the main second baseman, to the third baseman, changing Keystone Combi to a completely new face.
Coach Lee was confident that he could fill the gap between Heo Kyung-min and Kim Jae-ho. He said "If we had been judged to be weak, I would have asked the club to reinforce it. Of course, Heo Kyung-min's seat will be big. However, the players' eyes changed when they heard that Heo Kyung-min would be transferred. There's one spot I couldn't go over. I thought it wouldn't be bad when I saw the players working out with completely different eyes" he said.
Doosan will take nine infielders to Sydney's first camp. Except for Kang Seung-ho and Yang Seok-hwan, the remaining seven players are expected to compete fiercely. Kim Dong-joon, a big shot prospect, is likely to prepare for a backup to the first baseman, and rookie Park Joon-soon got a chance this year along with Park Ji-hoon, Yeo Dong-gun, Oh Myung-jin, Lee Yoo-chan and Im Jong-sung.
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When Doosan's general manager Kim Tae-ryong nominated Park Joon-soon, he said, `Park Jun-soon is the best infielder this year. I think I can play one of the pillars of Doosan's infield for the next 20 years. The highest infielder of the year, close to five tools," he said.
Park Joon-soon inherited the uniform number 52, which is the symbol of retired Kim Jae-ho. The player himself chose to boldly follow the legend's footsteps. Ahn Jae-seok, a promising player who was previously called the 'second Kim Jae-ho', has accumulated experience by playing shortstop since his debut season in 2021. Park Joon-soon is expected to be able to play shortstop and second baseman, and if he impresses well during spring camp, he may play shortstop directly like Ahn Jae-seok. It all depends on Park Jun-soon's hard work and proof.
Doosan had quite a hard time until last year as young infielders who could push them out did not grow until Heo Kyung-min and Kim Jae-ho, who are in their late 30s, stepped down themselves. The Sydney camp will bring a large number of players, including Park Joon-soon, Kim Dong-joon, Park Ji-hoon, Yeo Dong-gun, Im Jong-sung and Oh Myung-jin, who have rarely had a chance in the first team. In a fierce competition for survival, will 19-year-old high school graduate Park Joon-soon prove his talent to shake the board.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
