"I can feel the weight of the national team's uniform."
When Kiwoom Heroes infielder Kim Hwi-jip was asked how he felt about joining the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) national team, he replied like this. Kim Hwi-jip, who joined Kiwoom in 2021 after graduating from Shinil High School, has been taking a step forward since his first year of debut. In 110 games this season, he hit .249 (92 hits in 369 at-bats) with eight home runs, 51 RBIs, 46 points, and an OPS of .712.
Kim Hwi-jip asked teammates Kim Hye-sung (infielders) and Kim Dong-heon (catchers) a lot before joining the national team. "I did it because I didn't know what to pack because it was the first time for the adult national team," Kim Hwi-jip said.
After the announcement of the APBC national team entry, my parents were most pleased. "My father thought he would like me to go to APBC, but after the entry announcement, my parents were very happy. My grandfather and grandmother from both families liked it a lot.
Kim Hwi-jip uses Gocheok Sky Dome as his home stadium, but he is highly anticipated to play at Tokyo Dome, called the "heart of Japanese baseball." "It's an honor just to be able to play baseball at the Tokyo Dome, and I think we have to do really well," Kim Hwizip said. "I hope we win somehow and I think it's a good opportunity to develop personally." I'm trying to do it with confidence. That's the most important thing. Wouldn't it be important to do it confidently and without hesitation?" he said.
He then said, "I imagined putting a ball on the outfield stand at Tokyo Dome if I played in the game. It is important to do it without hesitation because you can show your ability only when you do it is important to do it without hesitation. "It's been a long time since the season ended, so I think it'll be more fun," he added.
Looking back on this season, Kim Hwi-jip said, "It's a shame that the team's performance is not good. Personally, I received a lot of business opportunities last year and played in the Korean Series, but I thought I had to grow this season. It's not a huge growth, but I think it's a step up from last year. It is important to grow steadily. I'm not talented, so I have to be alert all the time," he stressed.
"I think the process of fighting at the batter's box was also good. I just did it last year, but now I feel like I'm fighting. The batting form has also reached a level that can be explained by itself. He had a lot of luck last year, but the number of hits he hit well increased this year and improved in scoring situations. I have confidence that I can do better next year, he added.
Kim Hye-sung, a team senior and captain of the national team, said of Kim Hwi-jip, "I love the ability I have. As an infielder, he has excellent ability to produce long balls as well as secure defense. The potential for development is endless," he praised.
Kim Hwi-jip said, "(Kim) Hyesung and (Song) Sung-moon tell a lot of good stories. Thank you so much for trusting me and giving me the opportunity, Director Hong Won-ki. You have to repay as much as you believe. "If I do well next year, I will be able to go to the fall baseball," he said, expressing his desire for the fall stage.
Meanwhile, Kim Hwi-jip performed impressively in two practice matches against the Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangmu). He garnered three walks and homered twice in the first game on the 8th, and had two hits and two RBIs including a double in the game on the 11th.