The Samsung Lions' 'little giant' Kim Ji-chan (outfielder) has become even more fearsome.
Debuting in the professional league in 2020, Kim Ji-chan had his best season last year. In his first year as an outfielder, he played in 135 games, recording 453 at-bats, 143 hits, a batting average of .316, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, 102 runs, and 42 stolen bases. He not only achieved a batting average over .300 in his debut but also set personal records in hits, home runs, RBIs, runs, and stolen bases for a single season.
Lee Jin-young, the hitting coach who contributed to Samsung's top-ranking in team home runs last year, expressed strong confidence, saying, 'Honestly, I don't worry about Gu Ja-wook and Kim Ji-chan.'
Lee Jong-wook, the strategic-outfield coach and a former national team leadoff, noted, 'There are some areas that need improvement, but he is working hard and getting better. His throws exceeded expectations. He is so passionate that he comes asking for extra training.'
Kim Ji-chan has been demonstrating a sharp hitting performance in the exhibition games. As of the 14th, he boasts a batting average of .600 (6 hits in 10 at-bats) along with 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 1 stolen base. Notably, on the 14th, he hit his first home run of the exhibition season in a home game against the LG Twins, launching a solo shot against LG's starting pitcher Lee Ji-kang as the leadoff batter in the third inning.
Kim Ji-chan stated, 'I prepared the same way as any other offseason.' He added, 'My hitting isn't great, but since the results are good, I want to think positively. Raising my batting performance while achieving good results is my top priority.'
It's hard to believe it's already the second year since transitioning to outfield, as his defensive skills have improved significantly. Kim Ji-chan expressed gratitude, saying, 'I gained a lot from last year's experiences, and training with Coach Lee Jong-wook since spring camp has boosted my confidence in defense.'
Kim Ji-chan, who excels in offense, defense, and base running, remarked, 'I always think about it, but I want to solidify my performance in all areas. From the moment the season starts, I have to do my best to win in every aspect, so I plan to prepare thoroughly in all areas.'
Year by year, Kim Ji-chan is on the rise. With last year's career-high achievements and experiences from his first year as an outfielder, expectations are high for him to improve even further this season.
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