KIA Tigers outfielder Kim Seok-hwan staged an armed demonstration with 2 homers and 5 RBIs in the Futures League. However, on the day of the extended entry in September, there was no seat for Kim Seok-hwan. Due to the thick first-team outfield depth situation, it is not easy for Kim Seok-hwan to seize an opportunity.먹튀검증

KIA called up pitchers Park Jun-pyo and Kim Dae-yu, catcher Han Seung-taek, and infielder Hwang Dae-in with the implementation of extended entry on September 1. The remaining one seat belongs to Lee Eui-ri, who is returning from injury on the 3rd.

KIA coach Kim Jong-guk met with reporters before the game on the 1st and said, “In line with the implementation of the expansion entry, the bullpen was reinforced and the number of catchers and infielders was raised. In the case of Han Seung-taek and Hwang Dae-in, we plan to take on a backup role in the second half of the game.”

Among the names missing from this extended entry call-up list, the player who stands out the most is Seok-Hwan Kim. Seok-Hwan Kim, born in 1999, is considered a strong candidate for a first-team call-up throughout this season as a left-handed hitter, and is recording impressive results with a batting average of 0.291/16 home runs/61 RBI/on-base percentage/0.555/slugging percentage of 0.555 in 67 Futures League games.

Seok-Hwan Kim, who has been on a hitting streak for 5 consecutive Futures League games, also hit 4 home runs during this period. In particular, in the Futures League match against the Samsung Lions on September 1, the day the extended entry was implemented, Kim Seok-hwan showed off his strength by going 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

Kim Seok-hwan, who played as the designated hitter number 4 on this day, struck out with a missed swing in his first at-bat in the top of the second inning. Later, in his second at-bat in the top of the 4th inning, he attacked the 4th ball against opposing starting pitcher Choi Ha-neul with a ball count of 3B and hit a large solo home run with a distance of 130 meters.

Kim Seok-hwan came to the plate in the top of the 6th inning with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd base and scored an RBI with a sacrifice fly ball to right field. Later, in the top of the 8th inning, with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base, Kim Seok-hwan attacked the 6th ball against the changed pitcher Choi Chung-yeon with a ball count of 2B-2S and drew a three-run arch with a distance of 130m. Kim Seok-hwan showed off his amazing power twice that day, hitting a large 130m home run.

Kim Seok-hwan, who did not get a chance despite the extended entry in September, is not easy to penetrate the outfield depth of KIA, the ‘best in the league’

However, Kim Seok-hwan has rarely been able to get a chance in the first team this season. Kim Seok-hwan, who was included in the opening entry, was canceled without participating four days later. Later, at the end of May, he received a chance to call up the first team, but Kim Seok-hwan went down to the Futures team after only 1 hit and 2 RBIs in 14 at-bats in 4 games.

There was a possibility of a call-up during the expansion entry in September, but in the end, Kim Seok-hwan’s return to the first team was not made. Kim Seok-hwan has mainly played outfield defense this season. The KIA 1st team outfield depth is the best in Korea. Left-handed outfielders such as Ko Jong-wook, Socrates, Choi Hyeong-woo, Na Seong-beom, and Choi Won-joon, as well as Lee Woo-sung and Lee Chang-jin, make up the KIA outfield lineup. It is true that Kim Seok-hwan seldom sees any room to break through.

Above all, the atmosphere of other KIA lines is also on fire. KIA, which recently won 5 consecutive wins, defeated Pedi, the league’s strongest starter and ‘nemesis’, with 7 runs against the Gwangju NC Dinos on August 31st. KIA, which continued its momentum, also attacked the opposing foreign pitcher Elias with 5 runs in 5 innings in the match against Munhak SSG Landers on September 1st. KIA, which has succeeded in winning 6 consecutive victories without hesitation, is in an atmosphere where there is no need to change the team’s batting line.

From Kim Seok-hwan’s point of view, he has no choice but to wait for a call-up opportunity that may come at any time with great patience. He also needs his own skill and luck to seize the opportunity that comes suddenly. I wonder if Kim Seok-hwan will be able to dramatically show his true value in the first team at the end of this season.