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KIA's happy worries in the second half, even the backup's batting average is up to 300%


Before the game on the 5th, he had a batting average of 0.289 (118 hits in 408 at-bats), 17 home runs (6th in the league), 73 RBIs (5th), 72 runs (4th), 9 steals (on-base percentage), 0.354 slugging percentage, and 0.48842 (12th) OPS. Austin Dean (LG Twins), Raul Alcantara (Doosan Bears), and Eric Pedi (NC Dinos) are definitely better than him in many ways. His strong batting average of 0.314 (11 hits in 35 at-bats) for KT Wiz and 0.350 (14 hits in 40 at-bats) for LG is one of the reasons for increasing his chances of renewing his contract.

However, looking at the batters in the second half of the year, Socrates' renewal next season also makes him think "for a while." As the starting lineup collapsed due to injuries and sluggishness (4.58 ERA, 8th place in the league), it was the batting line that saved the possibility of autumn baseball, which once seemed precarious. In the second half of the year, KIA is showing overwhelming firepower with a team batting average of 0.306, 26 home runs, 199 RBIs, 214 runs, 29 steals, and OPS of 0.828. In particular, in terms of OPS alone, it is 0.770 which is a significant difference from NC, which is ranked second in the league. Thanks to this, KIA has won eight consecutive games in 751 days, rising to fourth place by 3.5 games with second-place KT.

At the center is the presence of Choi Hyung-woo (40) and Na Sung-bum (34), who are in the outfield and clean-up with Socrates. Even at the age of considering retirement, Choi Hyung-woo is showing off his old age with a batting average of 0.297 in 105 games, 15 home runs, 74 RBIs, 57 runs, and a on-base percentage of 0.396 slugging percentage of 0.476 OPS 0.872. Na Sung-bum, who has been out of injury for a long time, has been showing MVP-class performance with a batting average of 0.344, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, 42 runs, and a on-base percentage of 0.411 slugging percentage of 0.644 OPS 1.055, despite playing since the end of June.

Among them, Choi Hyung-woo is mainly playing as a designated hitter, but he is flawless even when he does not play outfield. This is thanks to the presence of backup outfielders such as Ko Jong-wook (34), Lee Chang-jin (32), and Lee Woo-sung (29).

It usually comes out as a rare start in the second half of the game or when the main outfielders are resting due to physical management and poor condition, but looking at the records in the second half alone, it is not surprising to win a single starting position. Ko Jong-wook has a batting average of 0.366 (15 hits in 41 at-bats) 1 home run, 8 RBIs, 5 runs in OPS 0.849, Lee Chang-jin has a batting average of 0.333 (9 hits in 27 at-bats) 4 RBIs, 2 steals in 20 games, and Lee Woo-sung has a batting average of 0.300 (18 hits in 60 at-bats) 1 RBI, 7 runs in 28 games.

It not only serves as a simple record, but also as a scene stealer whenever it comes out. Ko Jong-wook's performance in the SSG and three consecutive weekend games was representative. Ko Jong-wook came in instead of Hwang Dae-in in the top of the seventh inning with KIA leading 6-3 on the 2nd and hit Lee Kun-wook's first pitch cutter to hit a timely RBI to the right. It was less than 15 minutes after being replaced by Oh Sun-woo before the defense in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was enough to boost the team's atmosphere.

In the game on the 3rd, he showed off his crazy presence by becoming the main character. It wasn't a start this time either. KIA and SSG stood at bat on behalf of Choi Won-joon in the top of the eighth inning with one out when they faced each other 6-6. Seo Jin-yong, the No. 1 saveer of this season, pushed the fork according to a grain, which became the winning hit to confirm KIA's eight consecutive wins.

As such, backup outfielders, who play more than one serving no matter who puts anyone in it, are putting pressure on KIA with solidity on players on the same team and on the opposing team with nonstop batting. KIA manager Kim Jong-kook's brilliant mercenary tactics, which have recently been put in the right place and making results, are further increasing their value.

Usually, in the baseball world, it is often said that it is more difficult to find a batter than a foreign pitcher. Although it is not the highest level in the league, it is not easy to replace Socrates, who has been performing well for two consecutive years. The fact that overlapping positions are regrettable is a happy concern in itself. But one thing is certain. The performance of backup outfielders is a great help to KIA's rise in the second half of the year, to the extent that even Socrates feels like a "moment" Gyereuk.