RSS Feed

Tech Support

KT Wiz's genius hitter Kang Baek-ho has been playing only as a pinch hitter since returning to the first division. In the match against SSG Landers on the 8th, he came out as a pinch hitter and hit a grand slam, but he still has no chance to start. Since returning to the first division, he has recorded one hit (home run) and four RBIs and two walks in four at-bats. He did not get a pinch hitter opportunity as a tight pitching match took place against SSG on the 12th.

Kang Baek-ho, who was a pitcher and catcher in high school, changed his defensive position to an outfielder and first baseman after his professional debut. However, it is true that he was not praised well in defense alone amid the praise of a "hit genius."

Recently, Oh Yoon-seok has started as a first baseman for KT, Bae Jung-dae as a center fielder and Anthony Alford and Kim Min-hyuk as corner outfielders. In terms of defense alone, Kang Baek-ho cannot be evaluated as better than them.

It is better for Kang Baek-ho to start for the team's batting, but it is not easy to make a judgment considering defense. KT is a team that values defense more than offense because it is a team that wins by defending rather than scoring a lot of points.

KT manager Lee Kang-chul said, "There is also the Asian Games, so I want to let (Kang) Baek-ho play a lot, but now we have to play as the main players," adding, "Our team has no time to spare." He said, "In the situation of leading, there should be a player who can be a defender, especially to keep it."

Giving Kang Baek-ho is a pinch hitter when he is losing or needs a score. Coach Lee said, "When you're losing, you have to go aggressively, so there will be times when you have to go with (Kang) Baek-ho as a pinch hitter." In addition to Kang Baek-ho, KT has other substitute agents such as Moon Sang-chul and Cho Yong-ho.

Coach Lee said, "The best is for Park Byung-ho to play as the first baseman," adding, "If (Park) Byung-ho plays as the first baseman, (Kang) Baek-ho or (Moon) Sang-chul will play as the designated hitter depending on the opposing pitcher. "Then both defense and offense will be strengthened," he said. Park Byung-ho continues to play as a designated hitter due to his poor calf condition, and is sometimes replaced during the game. Coach Lee said, "Since (Park) Byung-ho is getting better, won't there be a day when Baek-ho can start?"