Good move. Third baseman is the basics! Shortstop, second base, left field…At 38, the utility challenge is smooth for now
Feb 28, 2025
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KT Wiz's Hwang Jae-kyun (38) is a mid- to long-range third baseman who represents the KBO League. This season, Hwang Jae-gyun will take on a new challenge.
After last season, KT left the team after Shim Woo-joon, the main shortstop, signed a four-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles for a total of 5 billion won. KT later recruited third baseman Huh Kyung-min, who has excellent defense, for a total of 4 billion won for four years.
Hwang Jae-gyun and Heo Kyung-min are both third basemen. Traffic needed to be cleared up. KT manager Lee Kang-chul chose Hwang Jae-kyun's position change. Raised the defensive load a little bit more as a utility player. He was asked to train shortstop while third baseman was available. On top of that, Park Kyung-soo's second baseman defense, which has been agonizing since his retirement, was also included. It wasn't the end. There was even a training session in left field.
Manager Lee said, `Hwang Jae-kyun can go out at any time as a third baseman, where Heo Kyung-min will be missing, and he is playing shortstop, second baseman, and left fielder"Basically, he's a good handling player when he's defending. To a certain extent, you can throw it" I explained.
Hwang Jae-gyun is also preparing for the season with extraordinary determination, such as losing 13kg.
Okinawa's second camp, which focuses on actual games. 'Hwang Jae-kyun' was not bad. KT played practice games with the Hanwha Eagles and the Samsung Lions on the 26th and 27th, respectively. Hwang Jae-gyun all started as shortstop. In the game on the 26th, he also changed his position to left field in the middle of the game. Although he was not 100% stable, there were scenes where he was applauded, such as throwing himself, catching the ball and drawing a double play in the game on the 27th. In batting, he did his part by making two hits, one hit, and one walk.
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Lee said of the infield plan, `We have to make it from now on. It is not easy because he is a shortstop in the center line. The main player is Kim Sang-soo, but it is difficult to play full-time. I wish there was only one shortstop backup, but young players are working hard, so we need to see more"Cheon Sung-ho prepared shortstop, but Hwang Jae-gyun was better. Chun Sung-ho returned to his original second base" he said.
Meanwhile, KT reported its first win in the Okinawa camp with an 8-1 victory over Samsung on the 27th. While starter Ko Young-pyo pitched well with three strikeouts in three innings, Kim Min-soo (1 scoreless inning), Kim Min-soo (1 scoreless inning), Woo Kyu-min (1 scoreless inning), Choi Dong-hwan (1 scoreless inning), Park Se-jin (1 scoreless inning), Son Dong-hyun (1 scoreless inning), and Park Young-hyun (1 scoreless inning) checked their sense of practice.
The batting line hit 15 hits long and short, and Huh Kyung-min, Kim Min-hyuk, Bae Jeong-dae, Oh Yoon-seok showed a good batting sense with multi-hits. Manager Lee said, "Ko Young-pyo threw well without losing a point even though it was his first pitching. I haven't played many games yet, but I'm encouraged that young players are getting better through practice games."
KT will play its third practice game in Okinawa camp against SSG Landers on the 28th.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
