Former major leaguer pitcher → 27.7 billion FA → even the enemy of the dynasty...New Year's Professional Baseball Captain Qualification
Jan 01, 2025
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Professional baseball plays 144 games a year. Due to the nature of turn-based sports, breathing is often cut off. During the attack, all but a few batters and runners watch the game together in the dugout.
This is why it is important to lead the team's atmosphere and lead the example leadership of 'Captain', which encompasses coaches, including coaches, superstars, senior players, and newcomers.
Some teams are nominated by coaches, and others are selected through consultation between players. Different teams may have slightly different standards for their captains. However, not only social skills but also skills appropriate to the position are needed. In the end, professionals speak with their skills.
In line with its presence, the 10 team captains are also colorful. From the team's oldest to the highest FA and locker room leaders, the total was included.
A total of four new captains this year and five captains following last year. Although the captain has not yet decided on this, the Lotte Giants are also likely to serve a second term for Jeon Joon-woo.
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However, it is rare for a pitcher to be the captain. For SSG, it has been 17 years since Kim Won-hyung in 2007-2008, and it is the first pitcher captain since KIA Yang Hyun-jong in 2020 as a whole. Pitchers spend a long time in the bullpen to check their conditions.
However, in the case of starting pitchers, they often stay in the dugout and communicate on days when they do not take the mound. Kim Kwang-hyun has become a franchise superstar of SSG, a former major leaguer, and already the most senior player in the team. Kim Kwang-hyun also accepted the players' active recommendations.
For the same reason as pitchers, catchers are generally reluctant to take the captain's position. However, it is a connection point between pitchers and batters, and it is not uncommon to become a captain when the character encompasses the entire team and the weight of the center hitter is added.
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Yang Eui-ji, 38, is now old enough to be called a veteran, but he still reigns as the best catcher in the league along with senior Kang Min-ho. Last year, when health issues overlapped with sluggishness, he played a central role in the lineup with a batting average of 314, 17 home runs and 94 RBIs. At the time of his first FA transfer, he was valued enough to receive 12.5 billion won from the NC Dinos and 15.2 billion won when he returned to Doosan. He has a strong image of 'Captain' after serving as captain for three years during his three-year career in NC, but he is the first armband to kick in Doosan.
KT has traditionally been captain by the highest-ranking player in the team. Jang Sung-woo took over this year when Park Kyung-soo, who served as captain for three consecutive years until last year, retired. Jang Sung-woo, 35, is also a player who takes the center of the team so much that coach Lee Kang-chul repeatedly thanked him.
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The Samsung Lions, who have tasted the first Korean Series stage in nine years with the defending champion KIA Tigers, will continue to be captain Na Sung-bum and Koo Ja-wook. Lotte Jeon Joon-woo and Hanwha Eagles Chae Eun-sung will also play the role of senior players representing the team. Jeon Jun-woo will be the captain for four years, excluding 2023 (An Chi-hong) out of the last five years.
NC Dinos Park Min-woo and Kiwoom Heroes Song Sung-moon will each serve as captains inherited from Son Ah-seop and Kim Hye-sung during the last season. Now they are the players who are given the responsibility to lead the team as the leaders of any team.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
