Lee Jeong-hoo Out, Choi Joo-hwan In’ What color will Kiwoom’s batting line be different?
Kiwoom Heroes will have to play the 2024 season without Lee Jeong-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants), who was the team's star for the past seven years (2017-2023 seasons). With a batting average of 0.340 (1,181 hits in 3,476 at-bats), 65 home runs, 515 RBI, and an on-base percentage of 0.407 in 884 games, it seems inevitable that his power will weaken due to his absence. Last season, the team suffered a major collapse with 16 wins, 1 draw, and 34 losses (0.277 winning percentage) during the period when Lee Jeong-hoo was away due to an ankle injury (July 23 to October 2).
Lee Jeong-hoo’s departure is painful. However, it is not an unexpected gap. Kiwoom has been preparing for Lee Jung-hoo since he announced his intention to advance to the Major League (MLB) ahead of last season. As a result, there is no major problem in forming a lineup with the hitters we currently have.
Kim Hye-seong (25), who posted a batting average of 0.335, 7 home runs, and 57 RBI in 137 games last season, is the key player. He said, “I was disappointed that the team’s performance in 2023 was not good,” and is preparing for the 2024 season by training steadily even during his inactivity period. Ronnie Dawson (29), who joined as a replacement foreign hitter and achieved decent results with a batting average of 0.336, 3 home runs, and 29 RBIs, and Lee Joo-hyung, who showed off his potential with a batting average of 0.326, 6 home runs, and 36 RBIs in 69 games after being traded with Choi Won-tae (LG Twins). (23) can also be of great help.
The biggest change is the addition of Choi Joo-hwan (36), who was selected first overall in the second draft last November. Although his batting average last season as a member of SSG Landers was only 0.235, he is a slugger who hit 20 home runs (63 RBI). Kiwoom, which had the lowest number of home runs (61) last year, is worth looking forward to.
As resources are plentiful, internal competition is expected to become even fiercer. Players who have been regular starters, including Kim Hwi-jip (22), who hit a team-high 8 home runs last year, as well as veterans Lee Won-seok (37), Song Seong-moon (28), Kim Tae-jin (29), and Lee Yong-gyu (39), are also working hard. The task is to find the optimal combination through spring camp.
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