The KIA Tigers suffered the lowest humiliation at the beginning of the season. On the 21st of last month, he came back to life after a weekend 3 game against Samsung in Gwangju. 3 wins in a row → 5 wins in a row, winning 9 wins in 11 games, rising to 4th place at once.

As of the 8th, 13 wins and 12 losses. KIA coach Kim Jong-guk is carefully aiming for a 50% win rate until June when the injured return. But the team atmosphere is getting better and better. It is a good flow even if the goal is slightly raised.

Both the starting pitcher and the bullpen are on the right track to some degree. What has not been resolved is the lower line. While Na Seong-beom and Kim Do-young are out with a long-term injury, players who will play an active role in the mid-lower lineup are being placed upwards. Of course, the bottom line can only be slightly loose.

The biggest concern is catchers. Han Seung-taek and Joo Hyo-sang are in charge, but there is a big hole in the lineup.

Catcher Han Seung-taek has a batting average of 1.049 with 3 RBIs and 4 runs in OPS in 21 games. It is the lowest number among the main catchers in the 10 clubs.

Joo Hyo-sang, the transfer catcher’s backup catcher, is facing even greater difficulties. He had 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, and an OPS of 1 1/9 8 in 16 games.

The 2023 KBO League KIA Tigers and LG Twins match was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 28th. KIA catcher Han Seung-taek. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2023.04.28/

The 2023 KBO League Lotte Giants and KIA Tigers match was held at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 2nd. Kia Joo Hyo-sang

Gwangju = Reporter Choi Moon-young deer@sportschosun.com /2023.05.02/
Given this situation, KIA’s catcher’s WAR was -0.53. It is the lowest and one of the two teams that are negative along with SSG.

The average batting average is 1.18 and the OPS is only 3.5 and 3.

On the other hand, ‘catcher kingdom’ Samsung is on a winning streak.

Despite successive injuries to Kim Jae-seong and Kim Tae-gun, Kang Min-ho’s performance in air and defense and the fourth catcher Lee Byung-hun’s surprising performance, he is recording second place with a WAR of 1.39. His catcher’s batting average is the highest at .297. OPS also reaches 80%.

One after another, they are moving towards perfection. Kim Tae-gun, who suffered from acute hepatitis, has returned and is active, and Kim Jae-seong, who suffered an oblique muscle injury, will return next month. Prospect Lee Byung-hun, who came up to the first team taking advantage of the injuries of his seniors, led Suarez to 14 consecutive scoreless innings in two games with solid fundamentals and was selected as the exclusive catcher.

In the midst of this, the KIA Tigers announced on the 8th that they would appoint commentator Shim Jae-hak as the new general manager, breaking a 40-day vacancy.

General manager Shim, who was famous as a hard hitter during his active career, was an expert who served as a coach and commentator. As a baseball player studying, he was appointed as the new general manager in the evaluation of “high understanding of baseball 먹튀검증.”

Shim, who has been practicing analysis and research, began to think about the direction of KIA this season at a crossroads.

In order to achieve your long-awaited goal, erasing your weaknesses is as important as making use of your strengths. It is highly likely that the radar will seek supplementary measures for the catcher’s weakness right away.

Trade is the only way to secure a starting catcher during the season. The target team is likely to be Samsung, the kingdom of catchers.

It’s not easy either. The reason why it has been canceled since last winter is that it is not a simple task to match the cards.

An exhibition match between Doosan and Samsung in the 2023 KBO League was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 26th. In the top of the 7th inning, Samsung Kim Jae-seong, second and third base, is complaining of pain while batting. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2023.03.26/
The situation has also changed a bit.

Samsung must have keenly felt that ‘the more catchers, the better’ amid the line injury of Kim Jae-seong and Kim Tae-gun. Amid the blood loss that sent Lee Won-seok through the trade market, Kiwoom received Pil Seung-jo agent Kim Tae-hoon to reinforce the bullpen, a weakness.

The result of moving quickly under the judgment that the catcher trade with KIA would not be easy. But that doesn’t mean the additional trade doors are completely closed. For Samsung, relatively abundant catcher resources can be used as a means to make up for the still insufficient power.

This is why attention is focused on the negotiating power and determination of the new head of Shim Jae-hak.