Is he an alternative right fielder?
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho confessed one concern ahead of the Amami spring camp. There is no starting-caliber player to take right field in games where Na Seong-beom plays as the designated hitter. It was an important issue, though not comparable to the void left by free-agent moves of cleanup hitter Choi Hyung-woo and leadoff hitter and shortstop Park Chan-ho.
The designated hitter spot became vacant after Choi Hyung-woo's move. The manager plans to use right fielder Na Seong-beom, who has suffered thigh and calf injuries, and second baseman Kim Seon-bin, who was also slowed by a calf injury, as designated hitters. The manager judged they need to be managed so they can take more plate appearances given their injury histories and Kim Seon-bin's age of 37.
There are many alternatives at second base. Yoon Do-hyun is undergoing intensive training to improve his defense, and there is also Lee Ho-yeon, picked in the secondary draft. If you think strictly about defense, there are Kim Kyu-seong and Park Min, and second-year Jeong Hyeon-chang and shortstop Jered Dale can also be used at second. Kim Seon-bin has also shown a strong will to hold his position by drastically reducing weight.
There are no suitable alternatives for right field. The outfield regulars are center fielder Kim Ho-ryeong, left fielder Harold Castro, and Na Seong-beom. Backup players training at the Amami camp include Park Jung-woo, Kim Seok-hwan, Lee Chang-jin, Jeong Hae-won, Han Seung-yeon, second-year Park Jae-hyun, and rookie Kim Min-gyu. In games where Na Seong-beom serves as the designated hitter, one of these players must take right field. They must be capable both offensively and defensively.
First of all, a right fielder should have a strong arm. That is why Park Jung-woo's contribution is necessary. He can play both center and right field. He also has a strong arm, having pitched on the mound with velocities over 130 km/h. He has often been used mainly as a pinch-runner and defensive substitute, but his hitting is decent. In the 2024 season he had 69 plate appearances and hit .380. In the 2025 season his batting average was .274.
Now in his 10th year since joining, it is a time to take a step up. He is especially motivated because an environment where he can perform has been created. He endured trials last year. During the season he clashed with fans and received harsh criticism, and after the season he was unexpectedly embroiled in a misunderstanding about requesting a trade that never happened. It was emotional hardship and a life lesson. That made him more determined to prove himself with his ability.
He lacks raw power but displays precise hitting and is fast. If everything goes well, he has the talent to be a leadoff hitter. KIA still has not found a leadoff hitter. The manager is considering Jered Dale, but he must be observed in real games. Considering his various abilities, Park Jung-woo is certainly among the candidates. However, he needs improvements to appeal decisively.
Above all, concentration is needed in his play. There must be no careless mistakes on the bases or in the field. Game stamina is also important. Although he increased his contributions while starting games last year, his stamina quickly ran out and he even suffered an injury. That is a point the manager strongly criticizes. To build full-time stamina, he has been undergoing intense training since last fall's finishing camp. If 10th-year Park Jung-woo overcomes trials and becomes a stronger man, that would be the ideal scenario.
[OSEN]