KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol sent heartfelt well-wishes mixed with jokes to Sim Woo-jun (28), who transferred to Hanwha Eagles through a free agent contract.

Sim Woo-jun was selected as the starting shortstop in a practice game against KT at Kochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 26th, recording 1 hit and 1 RBI in 2 at-bats.

Sim Woo-jun, who hit into a 5-4-3 double play with no outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the 3rd inning, recorded an RBI single in the 5th inning with 2 outs and a runner on second base when Hanwha was trailing 0-4. He was later replaced by YIDO and finished the game. Hanwha, which began its counterattack with Sim Woo-jun's clutch hit, ultimately achieved a comeback victory of 7-6.

Sim Woo-jun, who joined KT as the 14th pick in the second special draft in 2014, has recorded a batting average of .254 over his career in 1,072 games (2,862 at-bats, 726 hits), with 31 home runs, 275 RBIs, 403 runs scored, and 156 stolen bases, with an OPS of .639. After returning from military service last year, Sim Woo-jun recorded a batting average of .266 in 53 games (169 at-bats, 45 hits), with 3 home runs, 28 RBIs, 22 runs scored, and 7 stolen bases, with an OPS of .680. After the season, he became a free agent and signed a contract with Hanwha for a total of 5 billion won over 4 years, marking his first team change since his professional debut.

Sim Woo-jun, who transferred with a large free agent contract, is expected to be a key shortstop for Hanwha this season. Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon has indicated his intention to utilize Sim Woo-jun as a leadoff hitter during spring training. However, there has been some negative sentiment among fans about the idea of using Sim Woo-jun as the first batter because his career on-base percentage is only .303. The leadoff hitter, who faces the most at-bats in the team, prioritizes on-base ability.

However, manager Kim Kyung-moon believes that Sim Woo-jun has the potential to perform well. He noted, "He can definitely raise his average. He was making unnecessarily big swings relative to his strength, and we are currently correcting that. Although it is not easy to change his form, he is working hard, and it is a process of improvement," expressing hope for Sim Woo-jun to show good hitting.

Furthermore, it is not yet definitively decided that Sim Woo-jun will be the leadoff hitter. In this practice game, it was Lee Jin-young, not Sim Woo-jun, who batted first. In an interview prior to the game, manager Kim Kyung-moon explained, "Today, Lee Jin-young is leading off, but Ahn Chi-hong could also bat first at some point. If Sim Woo-jun feels comfortable and is in good condition, he could come in as the leadoff hitter. I think it is better to leave the leadoff position open rather than fixing it too soon." He added, "However, having constant changes in batting order leading up to the exhibition games isn't good. I hope that when we return to Korea, the lineup can remain stable and not fluctuate too much."

Sim Woo-jun faced his former team KT for the first time in a while. Before the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol told Sim Woo-jun, "I told him to gain some weight. He has lost a lot. I advised him not to worry too much and just do well, saying not to feel unnecessary pressure." He continued, "If he receives money from there, he should perform well in return, as that would be good for him too," encouraging Sim Woo-jun.

After receiving encouragement from manager Lee Kang-cheol, Sim Woo-jun raised his batting pace by delivering a crucial clutch hit. Fans are keenly watching how Sim Woo-jun will perform in his first season after the transfer.

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