Will the Horyeong Zone remain in effect this year?
KIA Tigers Kim Ho-ryeong (32) is well known as a defensive genius. On April 2nd of last year, he made a spectacular display by spectacularly catching a double hit to right-center in the second game of the opening game against SSG Landers. I liked starter Lee Ui-ri so much that I couldn't keep my mouth shut. That was the only performance that fans remembered. This is because he did not show good performance in batting.
He was selected by manager Kim Ki-tae as a rookie in 2015 and appeared at the plate in 103 games in 2018. Manager Kim expected, “When he hits, he will become a special outfielder.” His batting average was only .201 and 8 %, but his insane fielding range and batted ball chasing ability were genius level. He was appointed as the starting center fielder in 2016. He appeared in 124 games and had 514 plate appearances. He had a batting average of .
He was on the rise, but he had to step down from his starting position in 2017. Special free agent outfielder Choi Hyeong-woo joined, and new foreigner Roger Bernardina also joined. Even Lee Myung-ki was brought in through a trade. Choi Hyeong-woo was the 4th batter of all time. Bernardina posted an excellent batting average of .322, 27 home runs, 111 RBI, 118 runs, and 32 stolen bases. Kim Ho-ryeong was better in defense, but he was no match for batting.
e took his place as a backup. He was an occasional starter, but specialized in pinch defense and pinch runners. When winning in 2017, Gigi moved to center field in the second half of the game and Bernardina moved to right field. His defensive skills helped him win the championship. He went so far as to coin a new term, ‘horror zone,’ which refers to a vast defensive range. However, he was unable to show off his business card with his batting.
His most plate appearances over the next five years were 138 in 2020. From the 2022 season, his position was still cramped as FA or Seongbeom joined. The 2023 season saw him make 107 plate appearances, but he had . It was his lowest performance since joining the team. He was gone from the first team for long periods of time twice, lasting 22 and 43 days respectively. His usefulness diminished.
The situation is not easy for the 2024 season either. The outfield is full and overflowing. Na Seong-beom and Socrates Brito are the undisputed starters. Competing for a spot in the outfield are Lee Woo-sung, who achieved a batting average of .300 last year, as well as Choi Won-jun, Ko Jong-wook, Lee Chang-jin, Kim Ho-ryeong, Kim Seok-hwan, and Park Jeong-woo. Choi Won-jun, who scored 174 hits in the 2021 season, will play full-time as an outfielder this year. Woo-sung Lee plays first base, but is a starting outfielder. Park Jeong-woo, 26 years old, is strong and quick-footed, making him a backup competitor. Kim Seok-hwan, who has not been able to shed the prospect tag, is also entering the competition with a desperate heart.
The biggest crisis has come to Kim Ho-ryeong. Maybe that's why I participated in the Okinawa finishing camp last November. He worked hard to improve his hitting ability. He is an indispensable backup for coaches. Even if a trade request came, he was an impossible player. He is still competitive in defense and base running. This year, KIA needs a strong presence to challenge for the summit. It has been 8 years since he joined the team and he will turn 32 in April. Kim Ho-ryeong hits well, runs well, and catches well. He still has fans cheering him on.
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