Short distance transfer from 'first base to third base', "still a strange heart"...Will 37-Year-Old Veteran Revitalize LG's Bullpens
Short distance transfer from 'first base to third base', "still a strange heart"...Will 37-Year-Old Veteran Revitalize LG's Bullpens
Blog Article
I traveled a short distance from first base to third base, but my team changed. It is still a strange feeling.
LG Twins pitcher Kim Kang-ryul attended the team's New Year's greeting event at Jamsil Stadium on the 8th.
Kim Kang-ryul made his first career transfer on April 13. He signed a three-plus-year, one-year, free agent contract worth up to 1.4 billion won (500 million won down payment and 900 million won per year) with LG, making his first transfer since his debut. This happened at the age of 36.
Kim Kang-ryul's former team is LG's "Jamsil Rival" Doosan Bears. He has played for Doosan since his debut in 2007. Doosan's locker room is behind the dugout at first base, and LG's locker room is at third base. He moved a short distance from first base to third base, but he still feels strange.
Kim Kang-ryul said in his transfer speech, "It seems strange. I moved to Jamsil at a young age, which I never thought of. It was strange because there were many familiar players compared to other teams, and many front office staff were familiar with it."
He added, "I've dealt with hitters from other teams who moved from Doosan, but now I've gone the other way. I think some of my friends will laugh, but I'm trying to focus the same. I'm curious about how it will be like."
Veteran Kim Kang-ryul should contribute to LG immediately. Team Korea wants to win the title, and at the same time, its main players Yoo Young-chan (right elbow injury) and Ham Deok-ju (left elbow injury) have to fill the gap where they have been absent for a long time.
"The most important point in the first half of the season is how well Kim Kang-ryul, Jang Hyun-sik, and Kim Jin-sung will take the center stage at the beginning of the season," LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, referring to Kim's name as one of the players he expects.
"Of course, it is time to show the results," Kim said of his determination. "My goal is to prepare well to meet the expectations and finish the season," adding, "There is no pressure. If you are a player, you should throw with a certain amount of pressure. I know why I am wearing the LG uniform, so all I have to do is to prepare myself to do well as I wish."
As a major player, he has to take the mound in many games and take responsibility for innings. However, in the last five seasons, Kim Kang-ryul's most innings pitched was 51 ⅔ innings in the 2021 season 토토사이트. He pitched in 53 games last year.
"I started exercising by talking a lot with my training coach Kim Yong-il from the end of last month," Kim said. "The off-season program was going better than I thought. I will prepare with the mindset that I will play at least 50 games. People around me say that it is amazing just to have surgery and signed a free agent contract. I am also proud of that. However, it is over now. I have done something impossible with positive thoughts. I think I will be able to play more games than last year."
Throughout the last season, LG suffered from anxiety over the bullpen. To overcome this, LG recruited energy sources such as Kim Kang-ryul to beef up its power. Will the veteran pitcher be able to display pitches that can contribute to the team.