"I learned from Yang Eui-ji and played in the game I'm happy."
“On a day when the team wins, I am happiest when I receive the last ball.”
Doosan Bears catcher Kim Ki-yeon
Catcher Kim Ki-yeon (26) is the busiest player in the professional baseball Doosan Bears recently.
After training with hitting coach Hansoo Kim early on, he focuses on defensive training, including blocking, with battery coach Yuji Serizawa.
After completing the run, we participate in the analysis of the pitching and catching teams' strengths and study strategies for targeting opposing hitters.
Although the days are hectic, Kim Ki-yeon, whom we met at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 21st, said, "I am having fun every day. It's really nice that I get opportunities to play often. Even when I'm not playing in games, I learn from watching top catcher Yang Eui-ji. “I’m really happy,” he said with a smile.
Doosan, which has found the ‘successor of Yang Eui-ji’, also smiles at Kim Ki-yeon.
Until the 21st, Yang Eui-ji wore the catcher's mask for 218⅔ innings.
Kim Ki-yeon played 160 innings as a catcher, relieving the burden on Yang Eui-ji.
In particular, Kim Ki-yeon is taking on the role of 'starting catcher' after Yang Eui-ji was hit in the knee by a batter's ball in the game against the KIA Tigers on the 15th. 메이저사이트
Kim Ki-yeon started as a catcher in five consecutive games, from the KIA game on the 16th to the SSG Landers game on the 21st.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, “Yang Eui-ji is feeling pain in his knee, so Kim Ki-yeon will continue to play as a catcher for the time being.”
Yang Eui-ji, who has recently been playing as a designated hitter or taking a break due to knee pain, praised his junior, saying, "I'm glad I have Kim Ki-yeon," and "I also get good stimulation from watching Kim Ki-yeon."
Kim Ki-yeon said, "Senior Yang Eui-ji said something undeserved in the sense of 'cheer up,'" and humbled himself by saying, "I am a catcher who has many shortcomings. I am learning a lot through training and playing in games."
He added, "It's important for me to grow, but in the first team, results are more important," adding, "I'm far short of senior Yang Eui-ji, but I'll do my best to help the team win."
Kim Ki-yeon joined the LG Twins as the 34th pick in the second, fourth round of the 2016 rookie draft.
There was no room for Kim Ki-yeon to play in LG, which had Yoo Kang-nam (currently Lotte Giants) and Jeong Sang-ho (current Lotte coach).
In 2023, he stayed in the 1st team for 102 days, but was unable to escape from being ‘LG’s 3rd catcher’.
For LG in 2023, Park Dong-won was in charge of home defense for 982 innings, and Heo Do-hwan was responsible for 212 innings. Kim Ki-yeon wore a catcher’s mask for 96⅓ innings.
Kim Ki-yeon said, “It was because I was lacking,” and recalled, “I couldn’t play in games often, but I trained hard. I also learned a lot from senior catchers.”
Doosan selected Kim Ki-yeon in the first round of the second draft in November last year.
Kim Ki-yeon, who broke through the competition to be the 'second catcher to support Yang Eui-ji', played 160 innings during Doosan's 50 games this year.
Kim Ki-yeon said, "The second draft became an inflection point in my life. I learned a lot at LG, but when I came to Doosan, I learned from coach and Yang Eui-ji and was able to put it to use right away by playing in the game. Happy days continue." He expressed his excitement. 슬롯사이트 추천