No injured player appeared, so KIA prepared for its second consecutive loss and finished camp with full support from the club

Feb 18, 2025

On the 24th, the KIA Tigers team trained for spring camp at Okinawa Kin Ballpark in Japan. Coach Lee Bum-ho is watching the players train. Okinawa (Japan) = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.02.24/

KIA Tigers' team safely completed the first Irvine spring camp in the United States. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

"With the consideration of the club, we were able to finish the U.S. camp in a good environment."

The KIA Tigers squad will move to Okinawa, Japan for the second camp after the first spring camp in Irvine, USA on the 18th (Korea time).

The spring camp, which was held at the Great Park Baseball Complex in Irvine, USA, was held on the 3rd as a one-day break from training. After preheating with physical and technical training, the team will begin preparing for the actual match at the Okinawa camp.

KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said, `With the consideration of the club, we were able to finish the U.S. camp in a good environment. Above all, I'm satisfied that there were no injured players." he reviewed the first camp.

The KIA club actively supported the team, which achieved the unified championship last year, to make all-out efforts to win for the second consecutive year. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun supported the team to issue all round-trip flights to Irvine in the U.S. to business seats. The team gave a huge victory so that long-distance travel would not interfere with the team's condition management.

Chairman Chung Eui-sun visited the Irvine spring camp training site on the 17th to encourage the team. According to Hyundai Motor Group, Chung decided to make a surprise visit during his business trip to the U.S. because he wanted to encourage the KIA team in person.

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun (left) made a surprise visit to the Irvine KIA Tigers spring camp training site in the United States. Captain Na Sung-beom is delivering a team gift to Chairman Chung. Photo courtesy =Hyundai Motor Group

KIA Tigers Adam Oler (left) and James Nail. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

Chairman Chung said, `I sincerely congratulate you on your good performance last season, and it was a great pleasure for Hyundai Motor Group members. "I couldn't attend the celebration in November last year due to heavy snow, but I'm happy to meet you in person at the off-season training site like this. "Winning is important, but personal health is also important, so please work hard on condition and body management for both the team and the staff."

KIA re-signed James Nail this year and recruited Adam Oler, who played as a starting pitcher in the Major League until last year, to set up a new one-two punch. He tried to strengthen his power by signing Patrick Wisdom, a new foreign hitter who boasts 88 home runs in the Major League. He had a busy offseason, including recruiting fastball pitcher Cho Sang-woo in a trade with the Kiwoom Heroes to upgrade his must-win group. Those who will determine KIA's power this year raised expectations by boasting good condition and pace in the first camp.

The end of the five-star competition between Hwang Dong-ha, Kim Do-hyun and rookie Kim Tae-hyung is expected to be outlined at the second Okinawa camp.

The team will return to Incheon International Airport on the 19th and depart for Okinawa on the 20th, the next day. He will start training again on the 21st and play a total of five games starting with a practice game against the Hiroshima Toyokaf of the Japanese professional baseball league on the 22nd.

Lee said, `We will check the players' performance and thoroughly prepare for the season through five practice matches scheduled in Okinawa.'