Park Se-hyuk, who left the Doosan Bears for NC with a total of 4.6 billion won ahead of this season, had a batting average of 0.212 47 hits, four home runs, and 27 RBIs in 79 games. A stable catcher lead gives strength to young pitchers. Such an injury departure is bound to be regrettable for NC.
Coach Kang In-kwon said, "We haven't started technical training yet. Now I'm focusing on treatment," he sighed. On top of that, backup catcher Ahn Jung-yeol was also excluded from the entry due to a partial damage to the right internal muscle.
But after a crisis, opportunities come. There is a player who fills Park Se-hyuk's injury gap brilliantly. It is Kim Hyung-joon. Kim Hyung-joon, who joined NC in the ninth place in the second first round in 2018 from Dongdong Elementary School, Segwang Middle School, and Sega University, had a batting average of 0.22759 hits, 5 home runs, and 22 RBIs in 159 games in the first division until the 2020 season.
Kim Hyung-joon suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in August last year, just before he was discharged from the military. He returned in May, but stepped on the ball during training and had to have another hiatus due to an injury to his right ankle ligament.
Then, Kim Hyung-joon returned to practice through the Futures Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangmu) match on July 5. He showed a hot performance with a batting average of 0.321 in July and 0.290 in August, and was ordered to make his first first-team call-up of the season on the 23rd of last month.
Initially, head coach Kang In-kwon said, "We need to check more about the part we put in the first division. I was named in the Asian Games national team, but I should not be able to play in the first division and lose my sense," he said, adding, "It's okay if I can continue to play in the first division, but it's a little difficult to do so. "I'm going to keep my senses by playing steadily for Futures and think about a call-up when I enter the expansion entry in September," he said. Kim Hyung-joon was raised as two catchers were injured.
Kim Hyung-joon is helping NC with his performance that exceeds everyone's expectations. In eight games, he has a batting average of 0.3187 hits, four home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored. More than half of the hits are home runs. have the power. There are few samples, but it is clear that it is an activity that raises expectations. He was not on board the national team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games for no reason.
Director Kang In-kwon also gave a thumbs up, saying, "You are playing a much better role than I expected."
"I believe in Kim Hyung-joon's ability. He said, "I think he will play better," adding, "I think he is feeling the ups and downs of his physical strength as he continues to play." "I will work harder to manage my physical strength and condition," he said.
Director Kang In-kwon previously said, "I have a strong dog as a catcher. Kim Hyung-joon's shoulder is a part that cannot be acquired. have a natural gift. In addition, he has strengthened his basic skills as a catcher when he was young and has grown. He said, "He is a player with high potential."