I wanted to ask Kim Kwang-hyun's confession fans a favor after the shock elimination
Jan 02, 2025
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The ranking match between SSG Landers and KT Wiz held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on October 1st. The two teams, who finished the regular season tied for fifth, played a single game in Suwon. Since it is not an official match, the match will not remain in the grade, but it was a match between the two teams, which had been engaged in a breathtaking ranking fight until the end of the season, drawing tremendous attention.
SSG, which was dragged 0-1, seemed to seal the score with Choi Jeong's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning following a tie in the top of the third inning and a reversal in the top of the fifth inning. KT's mound, which leads to Um Sang-baek, So Hyung-joon, and Ko Young-pyo, succeeded in cracking.
SSG led 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Noh Kyung-eun, who was blocking well, allowed a hit to leadoff hitter Shim Woo-joon, and the pitcher was replaced. The pitcher who took the mound was Kim Kwang-hyun. It was a surprise card. Even before the game, manager Lee Sung-yong did not announce Kim Kwang-hyun's waiting for the bullpen, but the player's will to take the mound was strong. It was because I wanted to be of help to the team.
But the game didn't go as I thought. He allowed a hit to Oh Jae-il, the first batter, and runners on first and third bases with no outs. Then Mel Rojas Jr. hit an upset three-run home run. The final score is 3-4. That's how SSG's fall baseball dream disappeared, and KT became the first wild card game winner since its advance to the postseason.
Kim Kwang-hyun has the game of the day in mind. "I felt sorry for the team members, the coaching staff, and the fans because I was hit by a reversal. I was also very sorry to the director. "He's a coach who communicates a lot with the players and listens to the players' opinions a lot, but I felt more sorry because I felt like I was only going to the bad side because I kept getting misunderstood with the fans."
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After SSG's failure to advance to the postseason was confirmed, the angry voices of SSG fans surrounding the team bus rang out at Suwon Stadium that day. There was also a lot of direct criticism against the coach. Kim Kwang-hyun recalled the time and said, "I was the most sorry. I wanted to go out and tell the fans to calm down. It's been such a long time...I was very sorry."
There is also a regret about "what if" the team would have easily entered the semifinals even if his performance was a little better.
Kim Kwang-hyun said, `I think I would have gone up easily if I had done about normal. Wouldn't it be third or fourth place. Of course, there is no such thing, but there is always an idea that I have to be good. If I do well, the team wins, and if I don't, I can't even make the top five. So I think I was too greedy to do well (in 2024). It was the first time for the director to come, there were many changes, and it was a season (2023) where he didn't win 10 games in a long time. I had a lot of greed," he blamed himself.
The news of Oh Won-seok's trade, which he cherished after the end of the season, was also shocking. Oh Won-seok, who Kim Kwang-hyun also trained with every offseason, will wear KT's uniform due to a one-on-one trade with Kim Min.
Kim Kwang-hyun doubted his ears when he first heard about the trade. "What? Why?He was surprised, saying "It's such a waste. I admit that Oh Won-seok did not do well, but I thought it was a waste of time and credit for him. I thought I should watch it after I finish my military service"I was upset.
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Still, isn't the sense of responsibility that 'but it's Kim Kwang-hyun' rather poisonous. The sense of responsibility is so great that there are sometimes side effects. Considering that he is now in his late 30s, he cannot be an ace forever.
Kim Kwang-hyun said "I used to play as much as foreign players, but now I think I'm just supporting foreign aces. If I say I'm the fifth starter now, I think I'm trying to go too comfortably and I think I have to do about the responsibility of the third starter. So I think my role and (Moon) Seung-won's role will be important this year. Since the middle pitchers are ready, I think Seungwon and I need to hold on" he said.
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His four-year contract will also end this year after returning to Korea. This means that he will be eligible for FA again.
Kim Kwang-hyun laughed, saying, `I've never thought about moving to another team, and I'm worried about taking the captaincy rather than thinking about doing well because it's the last year of the contract.' "From the time I returned from the U.S., my goal has always been to win 200 games, and I just hope it will be a condition and opportunity to win those 200 games."
Finally, he still showed his thirst for victory and his team's victory. He said "I'm still drawing in the fourth and fifth innings even though it's not even the day I throw it, and when it's a big moment, my body just flinches. To that extent, there is still a desire and desire for victory. 200 wins through such a process is a dream that I really want to achieve. I hope to have that opportunity," he smiled.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
