“I wanted to be able to go two for two.”
Kim Hyung-jun (25-NC Dinos) changed his number this season. He went from wearing No. 47 to No. 25.
The number 47 was worn by Na Sung-beom, who moved from NC to the KIA Tigers ahead of the 2022 season. The number was unclaimed after Na’s transfer and was worn by Kim Hyung-jun, who was discharged from Jinhe Commerce.
Kim missed half the season last year due to injury. However, he made the most of that half of the season.
Despite playing just 26 regular-season games this season, he represented Korea at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October and won a gold medal. He also hit a multi-homer game in the wild-card decider against the Doosan Bears, and wore the mask as the starting catcher in the semifinals against SSG Landers and the playoffs against KT Wiz, 온라인카지노 leading NC’s fall surge. After the season, he also represented the team in the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC).
With a busy 2023 behind him, Kim worked hard to become the NC’s starting catcher once again.
“Last year, I couldn’t make the first team from the beginning because I was rehabbing. This year, I want to continue from start to finish without any injuries,” he said, adding, “It’s been four years since the first team camp since 2020.” I started working out in December. I treated my injuries and slowly built up my body. I think I’m almost there now. I’m trying to make sure I don’t get injured at the end so I can do well right away in camp.”
This season, Kim will wear a new number. The No. 25 is the number of Yang-ji, who led the NC to its first championship in 2019 as the starting catcher. Yang went 3-for-8 with one home run and three RBIs in the Korean Series and was named the MVP of the series.
When Kim Sung-wook changed his number last year, the number 25 became vacant and was chosen by Kim Hyung-jun.
Kim and Yang have a special relationship.
He joined the team in 2018, and Yang Ji was a good textbook and role model for him. Yang Ji also showed a lot of affection for Kim Hyung-jun. She even gave him her bat after the wild-card game last year.
“When we played in the NCs together, I hit a few times with your bat, and I liked it. From the Hangzhou Asian Games to the end of the season, I didn’t feel good hitting, so I got a bat from Yang Ji during the Jamsil game and used it.”
He has been training with Yang Ji in the offseason as well. “We unintentionally ended up going to the same center and working out together. We work out at the same time, which motivates me to work harder. We also talk a lot after the workout, which is great,” he said, adding, “Yang Ji works so hard that it’s almost unbelievable.”
He has been nicknamed “Post Yang Ji” since he joined the team, and now wears the same number as Yang Ji. With the number comes responsibility. “I originally wanted to wear number two,” says Kim Hyung-jun, “and number 22 is played by senior Lee Yong-chan. (Kim) 바카라사이트 순위 Sung-wook said that his brother doesn’t wear No. 25,” he said, emphasizing that he doesn’t attach much significance to the number.
After a long rehabilitation period, Kim Hyung-jun, who is now a full-fledged ‘national catcher’, said, “I don’t think I can be as injured as last year,” adding, “I think it’s important to be steady without getting sick. I think I can improve more and more as time goes by. Records are important, but I think it’s important to not get sick first,” he said.