Camp MVP for 2 consecutive years, determined to be 'Jamsil Idol'... "Only the challenge is left"
Camp MVP for 2 consecutive years, determined to be 'Jamsil Idol'... "Only the challenge is left"
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The 2025 Korea Professional Baseball League, which baseball fans have been waiting for, will kick off in earnest starting with an exhibition game on Tuesday. The 10 teams will play up to 10 games each for final inspection ahead of the regular season that opens on Tuesday. For the players, it is the last test that they have to overcome in order to be listed in the opening game entry.안전놀이터
During the spring camp, most valuable players (MVPs) selected by their respective teams are eagerly anticipating their participation in exhibition games. The representative runner is Kim Min-seok (21), an outfielder who was named the MVP of Doosan's spring camp. Kim was impressed by coach Lee Seung-yeop as he had a batting average of 0.375 (6 hits in 16 at-bats) and four RBIs and two runs scored in seven friendly matches and practice matches during the camp. "Choosing the MVP of the camp gave me great motivation. I will continue to enjoy the good performance in exhibition games and the regular season," Kim said.
Kim Min-seok heated up the transfer market earlier. Kim Min-seok, who wore the Lotte uniform as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2023 Rookie Draft, moved to Doosan through a 3-2 trade in November last year. As a rookie, Kim showed promise by playing in 129 games in 2023 with a batting average of 0.255, and only had a batting average of 0.21 in 41 games last year.
Kim Min-seok, who played as the first batter in a practice game against his former team Lotte during the spring camp and wielded three hits, is expected to be used as a leadoff in the exhibition game. This is the place where Doosan's franchise star Jung Soo-bin (35) has played as a regular for the past two years. Kim Min-seok, who was nicknamed "Sajik Idol" by Lotte fans during his time, is determined to establish himself as "Jamsil Idol" now.
SSG infielder Ko Myung-joon (23) made his name known to fans as he was named spring camp fielder MVP for two consecutive years. In four practice games held in Okinawa, Japan, Ko had a batting average of 0.545 (six hits in 11 at-bats) and two walks.
After debuting in 2021, Ko had only five games and nine at-bats for three years until 2023, he became the MVP of the Taiwanese camp last year and jumped to the starting lineup. In last year's regular season, he played 366 at-bats in 106 games and posted a batting average of 0.250 against the mark. Ko expressed his strong ambition, saying, "This year, I want to go beyond my position as the main first baseman and try to achieve 30 home runs in a season."
At Kia, Hwang Dong-ha (23) and Kim Do-hyun (25), who are competing to become the starting pitchers for the fifth consecutive year, have both been named MVP, making Lee Bum-ho smile. The two players pitched in two practice games and allowed no runs in five innings. Their styles are different. Analysts say that if Kim's main weapon is fast balls up to 150 kilometers per hour, Hwang can adjust his speed. The two players, who have increased the number of pitches to prepare for the starting pitcher, will compete for survival through exhibition games.
Expectations are high for Bae Chan-seung, a 19-year-old "newcomer" who was named the MVP of the Samsung Lions, as well. Bae Chan-seung, a left-handed pitcher, excited Samsung fans by throwing fast balls up to 152 km per hour during the camp. Bae pitched in practice games against the Yomiuri Giants and KIA Tigers of Japan, and allowed a total of two scoreless innings. Coach Park Jin-man is currently weighing whether to deploy the team to a must-winner.
In addition, Doosan pitcher Zach Rogue (29, registered name Zach Rogue) has been named MVP of his team's spring camp. Zach Rogue pitched five innings in two games, allowing one hit and no run. Zach Rogue, a left-handed pitcher, pitched in a total of 19 games in the U.S. Major League Baseball during the 2022-2024 season. Zach Rogue delivered the prize money he received as MVP to rookie pitcher Hong Min-gyu (19), creating a warm atmosphere.