Kang Baek-ho (26) of KT Wiz expressed his honest feelings ahead of free agency.
On the 28th of last month, Kang Baek-ho was selected as the starting catcher in a practice game against the SSG Landers at the Kusigawa Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, recording 1 hit in 2 at-bats with 1 RBI. The game ended in a 5-5 tie.
Kang Baek-ho, who is experimenting with the possibility of batting first this season, is expected to play more games as a catcher. "Catching is the toughest position," Kang said. "There’s a lot of physical demands, and I’m playing the most during the spring camp. It’s a bit tough," he added, "but (batting first as a catcher) is a bit challenging, yet fun. It’s just a bit busy. If I work a little harder, it’s fun. I get to bat more often, and there are so many good hitters behind me, so I can enjoy hitting without pressure." He continued, "I feel I should try it once. I don’t know for sure since I haven’t tried it yet. Also, I won’t only be playing as a catcher; I can also play designated hitter. So, I think I can handle it comfortably."
Focusing on catcher training, Kang Baek-ho said, "I’m studying hard. I’m attending pitcher data meetings to learn what works well and how it feels. I usually don’t watch game videos, but after games, I’ve been watching a lot of pitcher footage. There’s really no definitive answer. Even with good choices, if a batter hits well, there’s nothing you can do. I need to trust the pitcher’s pitches, and the pitcher has to trust me for good synergy. To build that trust, I thought understanding those pitches would help me give more assurance and support."
When asked which starting pitcher he will work with, Kang Baek-ho emphasized, "I don’t have the authority over that part." He responded, "I’ve been catching a lot of pitches from all the pitchers in practice games. That’s why I’m also getting a lot of game time. I’m eager for defensive innings too. Even if my body is struggling, I believe that trying now will help me catch the ball more comfortably when the season starts. So, I'm working hard."
"Last year, I suddenly had to catch, so I didn’t practice enough and the pitches looked too fast, making it tough," Kang reflected on last season. "This year, I started practicing from the beginning and catching pitches, so I’ve definitely become a bit more comfortable. Each pitcher has a different pitch trajectory, and by catching more, I learned how this pitcher throws and how that pitcher throws, which has really improved my catching. I'm also asking SEUNGWOO a lot of questions," he explained. He added, "By comparing myself at the plate and observing the swings of other batters, I'm developing my own swing mechanics. I think catching helps my batting as well," looking forward to the positive effects of being a catcher.
Kang Baek-ho, who has a .307 batting average in 802 games, with 924 hits in 3,006 at-bats, 121 home runs, 504 RBIs, 499 runs, 38 stolen bases, and an OPS of .882 in the KBO League, will gain free agency eligibility after this season. After a slight decline since 2021, he succeeded in bouncing back last year with a batting average of .289 (159 hits in 550 at-bats), 26 home runs, 96 RBIs, 92 runs, 6 stolen bases, and an OPS of .840 in 144 games. Currently, he is considered the most anticipated free agent.
"What do you think will happen with free agency?" Kang Baek-ho asked in return. "Honestly, I feel both excitement and concern. Above all, I hope our team performs well. The previous two years were a bit shaky, but last year was, I believe, a somewhat satisfactory season. The second half was really poor, but we still achieved those results. This means we did well in the first half, and thinking positively, I believe that such a pace could return."
Kang Baek-ho stated, "This year, I’ve corrected many areas that were problematic last year and fixed my mindset and approach to baseball. I believe this year will yield much better results than last year. Our team members are good, so I will start the season expecting even higher performance."
Regarding the possibility of entering Major League Baseball, Kang Baek-ho said, "I’m not sure yet. Anyone would want to go to the top position in that field. I want to go as well. If I have the opportunity, I will work hard," he added, "but I believe that if I do well this season, all those things will improve. If I don’t perform this season, I might have to go through free agency again. If I can establish myself as a stable catcher this year and improve my batting compared to last year, I think I can achieve satisfying results. This season's performance is the most important."
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