Kiwoom Rookie Ko Young-woo, First Starting Debut… Director Hong Won-ki “The Next Best Option”
Kiwoom Heroes rookie infielder Ko Young-woo (22) will appear as a top hitter in the first team for the first time.
The Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki first wrote third baseman Ko Young-woo’s name on the lineup card ahead of the professional baseball home game against the KIA Tigers to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the 25th.
Right-handed hitter Ko Young-woo, who had only started as the 6th, 7th, and 9th hitter, will take the number 1 spot for the first time.
Manager Hong explained, “Lee Yong-gyu, who has played a good role as a top hitter so far, had difficulty starting as a starter due to fatigue, so we used Ko Young-woo as the next best option. 파워볼사이트
Today’s opponent is left-handed Yang Hyun-jong, and Ko Young-woo has good batting sense, so we made this choice” did.
Ko Young-woo is active this season with 12 hits in 29 at-bats (batting average of 0.414).
Kiwoom’s best hitter, Kim Hye-seong, did an excellent job filling the void during the period when she was unable to play due to shoulder pain.
Coach Hong said, “It is still too early to define Ko Young-woo, who is still a rookie, as ‘a certain type of hitter,’ but he has the ability to hit the ball,” and hoped, “I hope he will play calmly today without worrying about the batting order.”
Kiwoom is giving many opportunities to new players this season.
Lee Joo-hyung and Lee Hyeong-jong left the team due to injury, and Kim Hye-sung also took a short break, leaving more room for new players to play.
This time, Ko Young-woo’s ‘potential as a top hitter’ will be tested.
Lee Jong-min, an unfamiliar name on the mound, will be the starting pitcher.
Lee Jong-min, who joined in 2020, appeared in only 13 games for the first team until last year and made only one starting appearance.
His first first-team appearance in the 2024 season will be as a starting pitcher.
Kiwoom is flexibly utilizing other starting resources except for three players, including Ariel Jurado, Enmanuel de Jesus, and Ha Young-min.