Will the 20-year-old catcher compete with his brothers?
The Kia Tigers will take four catchers to the spring camp: Han Seung-taek (28), Joo Hyo-sang (25), Shin Beom-soo (25), and Kim Seon-woo (22). Han Seung-taek has been a starter in the first team, and Joo Hyo-sang has experience of playing more than 200 games during his Kiwoom days. Advantage in first-team competition.
The challenge of Shin Beom-soo and Kim Seon-woo was also worth seeing. The two entered the spring camp roster as the team’s catcher landscape suddenly changed. In April of last year, Dong-Won Park came in and Min-Sik Kim, who was the main player, went back to SSG. At the end of the season, Park Dong-won qualified for free agency and transferred to LG, and the main catcher position became vacant.
Suddenly, the full-time main catcher was gone. Someone has to take that position. The club quickly negotiated with Kiwoom and recruited Joo Hyo-sang with the right to pick the 2024 rookie in the second round. Even Shin Beom-soo and Kim Seon-woo of the Futures team were given the opportunity to earn first-team catcher licenses.
Shin Beom-soo participated in spring camp in 2016, 2019, and 2022. This is his fourth participation. From his debut, he showed batting ability in the camp, but he could not keep up with the defensive power of his seniors.
Then, this year is the 8th year. He is in a situation where he has nowhere to back down anymore. At finish camp, he intensively honed his shoulder throwing power. Even during his inactive period, he was not sent to Hutu.
Kim Seon-woo, now only 20 years old, is also a catcher who is attracting attention. I am now in my 3rd year of high school. Picked up in the 2nd round of 2021. He also has a strong shoulder, and has defensive abilities such as blocking. He also hits the bat well. In the Futures League in the 2021 season, he recorded 3.4 1 Lee, and in the 2022 season, he hit 3.3 Lee.
He made his first-team debut last year and also enjoyed the thrill of 1 hit (3 at-bats). Director Kim Jong-guk is interested. Going to first-team spring camp for the first time in his debut. He has no choice but to be distinguished by his fighting spirit and will. You have to show competitiveness in spring camp and demonstration games to be given a chance to become a first-team player. 안전놀이터
Director Kim said, “I won the championship while forming a battery with (Lotte) Kim Jin-wook during Gangneung High School. The experience of winning is valuable.” At the same time, he said, “It is good to hit well, but the catcher must appeal with defensive power.