The NC Dinos signed free agent Han Seok-hyun (29) from the 2022-2023 free agent market for an annual salary of $39 million. Manager Kang Myung-hyun planned to use Han as a backup outfielder this season, but Han failed to capitalize on the opportunity. In 27 games this season, he batted just .200 with 12 hits in 60 at-bats, two doubles, and five RBIs.굿모닝토토 주소
Another backup outfielder, Kim Sung-wook, was also injured early in the season. Hee-dong Kwon was a late free agent signing and was inactive from the start of the season. Jason Martin also had a side injury. In many ways, April was Han’s chance to shine, and he did, batting .222 with two RBIs and five runs scored.
Eventually, Han was sent down to the second team on May 2 against the LG Twins. He didn’t return to the first team for four months until September 13 against the KT Wiz. Of course, the Futures League is a small league. In 56 games this season, he batted .311 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and an OPS of .812. Last year, he batted .338 with two home runs, 21 RBIs and an OPS of .871 in 48 games in the Futures League.
The NC official YouTube channel released a video of the C team hitters taking batting practice in the final camp on May 5. Han Seok-hyun hit a series of cool pitches and had this to say to battery coach Kim Jong-min. “I just need to have fun, and I just need to be good.”
Han said, “I think it’s a shame that I know that now. Now I’m going to try to do it while thinking about it.” For some reason, Han Seok-hyun has been playing baseball with a lot of pressure. The way he emphasized himself, he might have been conscious of what others were thinking.
He also asked Coach Kim Jong-min another question. He said, “What should I do if my coach’s willpower is weak?” Han Seok-hyun said, “I think you’re trying to do it with willpower, rather than just coming out and trying to exercise… That’s all willpower, too. It’s too difficult.”
He lacked the will to be good at baseball, and he chastised himself for not trying harder. He said, “I’m trying to see further, because this is not all there is.” In real life, Han will be 30 next year. Not young, but not old either.
The NC outfield won’t change much next year. Park Gun-woo and Son Ah-seop will be the mainstays. However, Son has been playing primarily as a designated hitter this season. The team is expected to part ways with Jason Martin, and the new foreign hitter will likely start at first base instead of the outfield. Kwon Hee-dong eventually took over the starting role after the middle of the season, but there’s no reason why Han Seok-hyun shouldn’t be given a chance. He’ll have to fight off competition from Kim Sung-wook, Jae-hwan, and others to get his chance.