A 19-year-old who set a new record for a 366.7% annual salary increase...You shouldn't be satisfied. When I remember the bitter comments from the national college coach

Jan 01, 2025

Kim Taek-yeon of Doosan is heading to the dugout after finishing the game between LG and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 6th and defense in the top of the 8th inning. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.08.06/

The Korean national baseball team participating in the Premier 12 trained at Gocheok Dome in Seoul on the afternoon of the 24th. Choi Il-eon, coach of the national team. Gocheok = Song Jeong-heon, reporter songs@sportschosun.com/2024.10.24/

"You can't be satisfied, you can't rest. You have to aim to be better and keep training so that you can be a better player."

Choi Il-eon, manager of the Samsung Lions' second division, watched right-hander Kim Taek-yeon (20, Doosan Bears) right next to him when he was the pitching coach for the team '2024 WBSC Premier 12' in November last year. Kim Taek-yeon was a rookie with three wins, 19 saves, four holds, 65 innings, 78 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA in 60 games last season. He joined the must-win group from the opening and soon secured the Doosan closer, earning the most save titles in a season of high school graduates. The previous record was 16 saves by Lotte Giants Na Seung-hyun in 2006. Throughout the season, Kim has proved himself on the mound and joined the Premier 12 national team.

Kim Taek-yeon has been a top prospect since graduating from Incheon High School and being nominated by Doosan as the second overall pick in the first round of the rookie draft in 2024. The heavy fastball over 150km/h was attractive. The breaking ball was evaluated to be refined a little more, but he broke down KBO veteran batters one after another with a good fastball. It surprised baseball officials by boasting fastball rotations that are not behind even compared to pitchers in the U.S. Major League Baseball and the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB).

However, in the Premier 12 tournament, Kim Taek-yeon did not fully use her power. He pitched one ⅓ inning in three games and allowed three runs with a 20.25 ERA. He had a batting average of .500 and two homers while facing eight hitters. He took the mound for the first time in Group B against Cuba in the first round and collapsed with two home runs and three runs in 0 innings.

After the competition, Kim Taek-yeon said, `I definitely felt that I lacked a lot when I faced the players representing the country. It seems that I can clearly feel what needs to be supplemented and what was lacking. I wanted to play in a better condition, but I'm disappointed that I couldn't throw 100% of the ball because I didn't have that physical condition. I think I lacked preparation, and I think that's why I've learned a lot. He expressed his intention to sweat more in the coming winter.

Coach Choi Il-eon raised the whip in anger whether Kim Taek-yeon would settle for the success she tasted at a young age of 19. He hoped to find something to learn from Park Young-hyun (22, kt Wiz), who showed the most stability on the mound while playing the closing pitcher for the national team.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the Premier 12 baseball team held a practice game against the Taiwan Weiquan Dragons at Taipei Tiyanmu Baseball Stadium in Taiwan. Kim Taek-yeon finished pitching in the eighth inning. Taipei (Taiwan) = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.11.10/

Dusan's Kim Taek-yeon is pitching hard in a game between LG and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 6th. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.08.06/

Director Choi said "You can't be satisfied, you can't rest. You have to set goals and keep training so that you can become a better player and be better. Park Young-hyun has such a posture. have a lot of greed. It's better than last year. Kim Taek-yeon is worried. Compared to (Park) Young-hyun, that point is weak. You shouldn't be satisfied. I said something, too. He said, "If I want to become a pitcher representing Korea in the future, I can't do it like this." I don't know how (Kim Taek-yeon) heard it. I think the pitcher's heyday is 30. You have to keep growing until the end. I wish I could keep training and researching"It stings.

After the competition, Kim Taek-yeon returned to Korea without any time to be disappointed and continued to toast. First of all, as everyone expected, he held the KBO League Rookie of the Year trophy. He swept 93 out of 101 votes, winning 92 percent of the vote.

The Doosan club repaid Kim Taek-yeon's growth and hard work last season with his salary. Kim Taek-yeon will receive a new year's annual salary of 114 million won. Last year, the annual salary rose by 110 million won from 30 million won. With an increase rate of 366.7%, the club set a new record for the highest annual salary increase ever. In addition, So Hyung-joon (24, kt Wiz), the Rookie of the Year in 2020, set the highest salary and tie record in his second year of high school graduates in 2021.

Kim Taek-yeon will be in her second year as a professional in the new year. It is time for Kim Taek-yeon to reflect on Choi's bitter criticism in order to avoid the commonly called 2nd year jinx. Kim Taek-yeon is a player who trains faithfully since high school and is good enough to impress the Doosan Scouting Team. Still, there is nothing wrong with listening to the leader's affectionate voice. Kim Taek-yeon herself said she realized her shortcomings while spending last season, so she will come back to find answers on her own in time for the opening of the new season.

Dusan Kim Taek-yeon poses with the trophy at the 2024 KBO Awards held at Lotte Hotel World on the 26th. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.11.26/

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.