[SPOTV News = Reporter Choi Min-woo] Seo Geon-chang (35) chose his ‘hometown team’ KIA Tigers rather than his ‘hometown team’ Kiwoom Heroes. The Kiwoom infield is already saturated. It is expected that there will be fierce competition for the starting position.
Seo Geon-chang wore the KIA uniform on the 15th. The terms of the contract are a total of 120 million won, including an annual salary of 50 million won and incentives of 70 million won. Seo Geon-chang, who requested voluntary release from the LG Twins this winter, chose to return to his hometown after much deliberation.
Seo Geon-chang, a graduate of Gwangju Jeil High School, joined LG as a training player in 2008. After moving to the Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom), his baseball career blossomed. Recorded 201 hits in the 2014 season. He hit 200 hits for the first time in the KBO League and broke the record for most hits in a single season. Seo Geon-chang was honored with his first MVP award. Although he was unable to maintain his skills for a long time due to injury, Seo Geon-chang recorded a total of 1,256 games, 1,365 hits, a batting average of 0.297, 491 RBIs, 813 runs, and 229 stolen bases in 13 seasons.
There was no room for Seo Geon-chang in LG, which had a solid infield. Seo Geon-chang put his application for free agency on hold three times and voluntarily left the team. At this time, Kiwoom held out his hand. As soon as he heard the news that Seo Geon-chang was released, general manager Ko Hyeong-wook took action himself. I proposed to Seo Geon-chang, ‘Let’s do it together.’ And I waited for Seo Geon-chang’s answer for a long time. However, Seo Geon-chang signed a contract with KIA, and his return to his parents' home never took place.
Still, fierce competition is expected to unfold in the Kiwoom infield. Kim Hye-seong, Choi Joo-hwan, Song Seong-moon, Lee Won-seok, Kim Hwi-jip, and Kim Tae-jin are competing for the starting position. While Kim Hye-seong requested a position change to shortstop, if Kim Hye-seong moves from second base to shortstop, a chain of shifts in the defensive positions of existing players may occur.
In particular, the second baseman position is expected to be the hottest competition. Choi Joo-hwan, who joined Kiwoom through the second draft, is also a second baseman. Kim Tae-jin, a utility resource, also played an active role as a second baseman. Kim Hwi-jip, whom Kiwoom must nurture with an eye toward the future, is also capable of defending second base. He has mainly played as shortstop and third baseman over the past three years, but has also played as second baseman in 2021 and 2022. Since Kim Hwi-jip does not have a fixed position yet, he is preparing for competition for the starting position by conducting defensive training throughout the infield.
Song Seong-moon and Lee Won-seok also compete for the starting position at third base. Song Seong-moon played the most games as a third baseman for Kiwoom last season. Lee Won-seok, who joined through a trade, also plays third base. The problem is first baseman. Kiwoom has been unable to find a starting first baseman since Park Byung-ho left. Choi Joo-hwan, Lee Won-seok, and Song Seong-moon could also be deployed as first basemen.
Kiwoom needs infield traffic control. If Kim Hye-sung's position is determined, the defensive positions of the remaining players are also expected to be determined. Attention is being paid to how Kiwoom's lineup will be formed before the opening game of the 2024 season.