Following pitchers Kim Dae-woo and Oh Seung-hwan, the Samsung Lions completed a contract with another internal free agent (free agent) infielder Kang Han-ul.
Samsung announced on the 17th that it had signed a contract with free agent Kang Han-ul.
The specific contract terms were 1+1 year, annual salary of 250 million won, and option of 50 million won, up to 300 million won.
Kang Hanwool, who went through Sadang Elementary School, JoongAng Middle School 바카라사이트닷컴
Ansan Technical High School, and Wonkwang University and was selected by the KIA Tigers as the 5th pick in the 2nd 1st round in 2014,
has made a mark by receiving many opportunities in the first team since his first season as a professional.
His overall first-team performance is 829 games, 2,141 at-bats, 574 hits, batting average of 0.268, 2 home runs, 158 RBI, 275 runs, 43 stolen bases, OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.636.
In 2014, Kang Han-wool recorded 55 hits in 208 at-bats in 93 games, with a batting average of 0.264, 14 RBIs, 32 runs, and 4 steals, with an OPS of 0.621.
In 90 games in 2015, he recorded 54 hits in 264 at-bats, with a batting average of 0.205, 12 RBIs, 30 runs, and 9 steals, with an OPS of 0.508. In 2016,
he recorded better results than the previous year with 81 hits in 298 at-bats in 104 games, a batting average of 0.272, 27 RBIs, 36 runs, 7 steals, and an OPS of 0.643.
Change came to Kang Han-ul after the 2016 season. This is because Samsung designated Kang Han-ul as a compensation player for free agent Choi Hyeong-woo.
At the time, the Samsung club explained the background by saying, “We chose Kang Han-wool to strengthen the infield,
which had many injuries in the 2016 season, and to establish a full-fledged competitive system.”
In accordance with the club’s wishes, Strong Wool recorded 125 hits in 412 at-bats in 135 games in 2017, the first year of his transfer,
with a batting average of 0.303, 24 RBIs, 58 runs, 12 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.684, achieving a ‘career high’ by having his best season since his debut.
After recording 50 hits in 193 at-bats in 83 games in 2018, with a batting average of 0.259, 8 RBIs, 20 runs, and 3 stolen bases,
with an OPS of 0.612, he joined Sangmu (Army Athletic Corps) to resolve military issues. In the 2019 Futures League,
he played 82 games, 228 at-bats, had 90 hits, and had a batting average of 0.395.
He posted decent scores of 43 RBIs, 41 runs, and 13 stolen bases with an OPS of 0.925, raising expectations for his future performance.
Kang Han-ul, who joined the team after being discharged from the military,
was promoted to the first team for the first time in September 2020, and in 34 games that year,
he recorded 32 hits in 105 at-bats, a batting average of 0.305, 1 home run, 10 RBI, 13 runs, 1 stolen base, and an OPS of 0.730.
In 2021 and 2022, respectively, he recorded 124 games, 223 at-bats, 58 hits
a batting average of 0.260, 27 RBI, 25 steals, and 2 stolen bases, with an OPS of 0.624, and 94 games, 226 at-bats, 73 hits, a batting average of 0.323, 1 home run, 26 RBIs, 31 runs, and 4 steals, with an OPS of 0.773. Last year’s performance was 72 games, 212 at-bats, 46 hits, a batting average of 0.217, 10 RBIs, 30 runs, 1 stolen base, and an OPS of 0.551.
Strong Wool, who obtained free agency status at the end of last season, waited for his market’s evaluation and could not find a destination until the end of the year. However, he was able to conclude his contract by reaching an agreement with his original club, Samsung.
Kang Han-wool, who completed the contract, said through the club
I am grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to continue to be with the Samsung Lions.
As I have already become a mid- to senior-level player, I will communicate well with juniors
do my best in the position the team wants, and receive the support of the fans.” “I will become a player who can repay the favor,” he said.
Samsung general manager Lee Jong-yeol said, “The team’s depth has become stronger with the signing of Kang Han-ul
who has value as an infield all-rounder and left-handed pinch hitter, and more than anything
he will play a salt-like role in alleviating the burden on Lee Jae-hyun, who played a large number of games last year. “I look forward to it,” he said.
With this, Samsung closed the contracts with three internal free agent players. Previously, on the 8th
Samsung signed a contract with pitcher free agent Kim Dae-woo for two years and a total of 400 million won
(100 million won in down payment, 200 million won in annual salary, 100 million won in options).
Daewoo Kim, who attended Seoul High School and Hongik University, joined Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom Heroes) in 2011 and began his professional career.
He found a new home at Samsung through a trade in 2016. Afterwards, he played as long relief and substitute starter.
Last season, he had 2 losses, 4 holds, and an ERA of 4.50 in 44 games and 64 innings.
In 11 seasons in the KBO League, he appeared in 352 games and recorded 27 wins, 26 losses, 23 holds, 2 saves, and an ERA of 5.75.
Samsung said, “Daewoo Kim is an underhand pitcher that the team lacks, and we expect that he will not only add diversity to the existing pitching staff, but also play in all weathers
going back and forth between the starting and middle positions.” Daewoo Kim said, “I look forward to playing baseball while listening to the cheers of Samsung fans once again.
I’m happy to be able to do this. As a senior player, I have a sense of responsibility and I want to show the fans better results and better performance than before,” he said.
A little over a week later, on the 16th, Samsung announced, “We signed a contract with pitcher FA Seung-hwan Oh for a total of 2.2 billion won
including 1 billion won in down payment and 1.2 billion won (400 million + 800 million won) in annual salary for two years.”
Oh Seung-hwan, who graduated from Gyeonggi High School and Dankook University
was drafted 5th overall in the 2nd first round in 2005 and wore a Samsung uniform.
Oh Seung-hwan, who joined Samsung, became the save king with 47 saves (4 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 1.59) in 2006
his second year as a professional. He became the league’s youngest player with 40 saves at the age of 24 years, 1 month, and 26 days, and later became the KBO League’s all-time saver king six times in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2021.
Seung-hwan Oh, who played in the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB) after the 2013 season
returned to the Korean stage in 2020 and set the record for the oldest save title in 2021.
Last year, he struggled during the season, starting as a starter and dropping to the second team,
but in 58 games, 62⅔ innings, 4 wins, 5 losses, 2 holds, 30 saves, and an ERA of 3.45,
he recorded 30 saves for three consecutive years and 500 saves in Korea,
the U.S., and Japan. He even set a record of becoming the first player in KBO League history to have 400 career saves.
Samsung said, “Seung-Hwan Oh, who remains with the team through a free agent contract,
is expected to create a synergy effect that will show a strong bullpen in the 2024 season with players recruited through off-season free agency and the second draft.”