"I was told to train for the third base position."
Will the .300 hitter grab another chance? The KIA Tigers are struggling to find alternatives due to the injury absence of key player Kim Do-young (22). He was diagnosed with a hamstring injury during the opening game on the 22nd and will be absent for about a month. They face the immediate task of filling the third base position, needing a player who possesses both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Coach Lee Bum-ho immediately utilized fellow student Yun Do-hyun as a substitute when Kim Do-young got injured in just two at-bats. On the 23rd, he was positioned as the starting third baseman and batting ninth. He handled the balls with stability, receiving passing marks for his defense. However, he was unable to demonstrate a solid hitting performance, making an out by a Samjin and a pop-up, and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the third at-bat.
There were also difficult factors, as he lacked experience in the first team, and the opposing pitchers were starters in the 1st and 2nd positions. Coach Lee noted that with Yun Do-hyun's utilization, "It’s not like Do-hyun is the only one playing third base. If he performs well, we will continue with him, but we are looking into other options as well. We are considering 2 to 3 lineups for winning matches."
He also said, "As a stopgap measure, (Patrick) Wisdom, the first baseman, also trained for the third base fungo. Originally, his main position was third base in the U.S. Byun Woo-hyuk, who is in the Futures team, has also been asked to train for third base. I hope Do-hyun shows his true self. Until April, we will manage to win games following winning patterns." His remarks hinted at the head coach's concerns about needing to adjust strategy due to the injury absence of a key player.
Particularly, interest lies in what lineup will be presented in the game against the Kiwoom Heroes on the 25th, as they transition into a schedule of six games a week. The opposing pitcher is right-hander Kim Yun-ha. Yun Do-hyun may continue to play. Given the promise to nurture him, more opportunities will be afforded. Alternatively, there is also a possibility of calling up Byun Woo-hyuk from the Futures team. Another option is to use Wisdom at third base and start Seo Gun-chang at first base.
Especially, Byun Woo-hyuk, who will turn 25 this year, did not make the opening roster. Last year, he also missed out on the first base competition and started the season in the Futures team. When Lee Woo-sung was absent due to a thigh injury during the season, he stepped in and posted a batting average of .370 with 5 home runs and 21 RBIs in 187 at-bats. He showed signs of awakening in batting. He performed exceptionally well as a first baseman in the Korean Series as well. He demonstrated enthusiasm by volunteering for the final camp, a strong desire to become the starting first baseman.
Nevertheless, with the signing of Wisdom, who boasts 88 home runs in Major League Baseball, there was no choice but to vacate his spot. The third base position had to undergo backup competition due to Kim Do-young's presence. Multi-position infield and running ability were the criteria for selection. He had no choice but to shed tears as he was excluded from the roster. In 3 games in the Futures League, he expressed his frustration with 3 doubles. It will be interesting to see if he seizes the opportunity to restore his pride.
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