Kwon Kwang-min (26) of the Hanwha Eagles started his KBO League professional career somewhat later than others.메이저사이트
Having been evaluated as a “five-tool player” equipped with both offense and defense during his high school years, he made a contract with the Chicago Cubs and took on the challenge of becoming a major league player. However, he failed to make his big league debut and returned to Korea to pursue his dream of becoming a professional baseball player once again. Nominated by Hanwha in the second round of the 2022 rookie draft (41st overall) for the past two years, he failed to find a place.
Kwon Kwang-min’s turn was rarely returned this season.
Having been sharpening his wings in the second division all season, he was called up to the first division with an expanded entry in September.
Kwon Kwang-min saved the opportunity as he desperately looked forward to in the first team. While looking for an opportunity during his substitute business trip, he hit a home run against the LG Twins on Saturday, his second business trip to the first team. He started to gain trust from the team, and started to make his name in the starting lineup.
Kwon Kwang-min said, “I prepared it with the thought of just one chance. There is a time anyway, so I was waiting for that time. It was hard, but I think we can’t let go of baseball.” “I prepared hard everything, but I focused the most on hitting. I tried to relax in my mental aspect and did a lot of weight lifting. I also talked a lot with coach Chung Kyung-bae to change my mind. I think what I have been preparing steadily so far has resulted in good results as I came out of the batter’s box without realizing it. The fact that my impatience has disappeared from the batter’s box has also changed,” he said.
In a match against Changwon NC Dinosaurs on Wednesday, Kwon clearly announced that he is a first-team player. He hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, and posted three hits and four RBIs, making his best performance this season.
After the game, Kwon Kwang-min said, “In order to survive in the first division, I prepared a lot for the Futures with a lot of basic swings, physical fights with pitchers, and mental skills. I believe in the process I prepared and don’t want to dwell too much on the results, so I have some room at bat.”
He knew better than anyone else that there were downhill when things went well. “I’m happy about his performance these days, but I’m trying to calm down so that I don’t get too excited,” Kwon said. “I still lack a lot of hitting, but I want to supplement my defense more because if my defense is shaky, I get more shaky mentally.”
Hanwha, led by Kwon Kwang-min’s performance, still continued its hope for fall baseball. It is also time for Kwon Kwang-min to get a chance for next season. “The coach gave me a precious opportunity. I will do my best as I do now in the rest of the game to repay my expectations,” he said.