To be honest, I’m happy to play in the first team. I’ve been playing baseball to play here.”
Lotte Giants pitcher Kim Kang-hyun met with reporters ahead of the last game of the three consecutive games during the week against the NC Dinos of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League,” which was scheduled to be held at Sajik Stadium on the 8th (cancellation of rain).안전놀이터
In the middle of this season, Kim has become a welcome rain for Lotte’s bullpen. His record this year is 1.32 ERA in 13 ⅔ innings in 15 games.
“Kim Kang-hyun and Park Jin-yi have a sense of stability,” Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said as the team’s quality pitching continued recently. “Of course, they could be hit by the opponent, but they seem to be throwing their ball well on the mound,” he said. “I think we should be bold enough to use it even when we have a one-point gap.” (Kim) Sang-soo has a sense of stability, but (former) Seung-min has ups and downs depending on the ball count or the first batter. Under certain circumstances, we can boldly use two players (Kim Kang-hyun and Park Jin),” he said, referring to the names of Kim Kang-hyun and Park Jin-jin, who are invigorating the bullpen.
Looking back on the past seasons, Kim Kang-hyun said, “I think I was lucky yet. Pitcher coaches and older brothers are helping me a lot. I think I got arrested because (former) Seung-min gave me a lot of advice. My performance is still 70 points. I lack both pitches, speed and control. I think I’m lucky that I’m in a comfortable situation (not a battle).”
This is Kim Kang-hyun, who desperately needs every moment. He expressed his commitment to do his best even if he catches a batter or throws a ball. “I am throwing the ball thinking it is the last day I throw it in the first division. I always throw it thinking that way,” he said with force.
It was Kim Kang-hyun’s smooth baseball life. After graduating from Cheongwon High School, he joined the Lotte Giants in the 2015 season. He was a catcher at the time, but now he is a pitcher. Ahead of the 2022 season, he started to change his position by holding the glove instead of the catcher mask. He also changed his name from Kim Ho-joon to Kim Kang-hyun. He struggled somehow to survive as a professional baseball player.
“I wanted to be a pitcher when I was young, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have a catcher in my team when I was in high school,” Kim said. “I wanted to be a pitcher for the last time, but I was grateful that the club offered me a change of position. At first, I was puzzled, but I still liked it. I felt that (the pitcher) was right,” he said. “His experience as a catcher helps me a lot. Still, I try to trust the catcher and throw the ball.”
Kim Kang-hyun is playing in the first team as the pitcher that he really wanted. “Honestly, I’m happy to play in the first team. I’ve been playing baseball to play here. I don’t know how long I’ll throw in the first team, but I’m just going to do it without any regrets. I feel that way the most,” he said.
From joining the club to changing his position. Many Lotte fans are also showing their generous support to learning about Kim Kang-hyun’s baseball story. It was unimaginable when he was playing in the Futures League. He recently enjoyed his way home from work. “Fans call out his name and ask for photos and autographs. There are more things like that than before. I really appreciate you just calling out his name. In fact, he didn’t even call out his name before. It’s so nice that he shouts “fighting” with his name these days. I thank the fans for coming to the stadium on a hot day. I will do my best until the end, so please give me a lot of support.”
Baseball player Kim Kang-hyun’s goal for the 2024 season is to survive in the first division until the end of the season. “My pre-season goal was to throw a lot in the first division. I just want to throw in the first division under any circumstances without getting hurt until the end of the season. From a distance, I want to do it consistently. There are times when things go well and sometimes they don’t, but my goal is to do it consistently,” he said.
Finally, Kim Kang-hyun said, “I didn’t play in a few games, but it was a good performance. Even if I play in more games, I will do my best to produce better results.”