Are they going to have 4 game changers?
The anticipation is rising for KIA Tigers' new foreign hitter Patrick Wisdom. Despite the high Samjin rate in Major League Baseball, he surprisingly showed precision as well. There are opinions that he will not have difficulty adapting to the KBO League, where the pitcher's quality is relatively lower compared to Major League Baseball.
Wisdom showcased his power in Major League Baseball. He hit over 20 home runs for three consecutive seasons starting from the 2021 season, and in the 2022 season, he hit 28. Although he experienced a slump in the 2024 season, he still boasts a total of 88 home runs as an active Major League player. This was the reason KIA chose him after giving up on re-signing Socrates Brito, who hit an average of 21 home runs for three consecutive seasons.
However, his Samjin rate reached as high as 37%. This means that if he comes to the plate 5 times, he strikes out 2 times. It was a 'hit or miss' style of batting. But Manager Lee Beom-ho, who observed Wisdom during the Irvine camp, gave a completely different diagnosis. He expected that Samjin would not come out as much in the KBO League.
"I don't think he will strike out that much. I don't know how the pitches will come in, but from what I see now, his batting posture is very good. There is not much fluctuation," and "he is not a full hitter like Hanwha's Noh Si-hwan, but he has a bit of a Kim Tae-kyun vibe. A powerful Kim Tae-kyun, that is how I see him. I think he will adapt well and should be fine," he expressed optimism.
Kim Tae-kyun is known for being a precise cleanup hitter during his time with Hanwha. Of course, he was not lacking in slugging power. His style pursued RBIs rather than home runs. He was a batter that pitchers found difficult to face. If Wisdom meets Manager Lee's evaluations and expectations for hitting, he could become a very challenging batter. This means another game changer could join the core lineup.
KIA already has 3 game changers in the core lineup. Likely No. 3 hitter Kim Do-young recorded a terrifying performance, boasting a batting average of .347 with 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, 143 runs scored, 40 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.067. His ability to change the flow of the game through hitting and baserunning stood out. His batting average with runners in scoring position also reached .317. He is tied with Doosan's Yang Eui-ji for the most game-winning hits in the league.
Choi Hyung-woo has also been recognized as a representative game changer in the league. Even after transferring to KIA in 2017, he remained a resolute solution, delivering crucial hits. Last year, at 40 years old, he produced a batting average of .331 with 109 RBIs in scoring position. Na Sung-bum also contributed as a game changer in the core lineup, hitting crucial hits, although he could not play full-time due to injuries over the past two years.
"The 'hit or miss' style of batting may be weak in clutch situations. If he reacts poorly to breaking balls, he will become easy prey for pitchers. Conversely, if he does not become a hole in the core lineup, he will be just like a game changer. If he meets expectations with precise home runs like Kim Tae-kyun, KIA will have 4 game changers in play. I already wonder how much of a destructive force that will be.