“Now I have to wake up and play more baseball. I really want to hit 20 home runs.”
Doosan Bears second baseman Kang Seung-ho (29) ranked first among non-FA fielders last year. He had a career-high season with a batting average of .264 (117 hits in 444 at-bats), 10 home runs, 62 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.709 in 134 games. He surpassed 10 home runs for the first time in his debut, showing the possibility of quenching the thirst of Doosan’s Uta Geopo infielder.
Kang Seung-ho first wore a Doosan uniform as a compensation player for infielder Choi Joo-hwan (35), who transferred as a free agent to SSG Landers ahead of the 2021 season. He was a promising player who joined the LG Twins with the 3rd pick in the 1st round of the 2013 rookie draft, but failed to blossom in LG and SK Wyverns (now SSG). In April 2019, when he was in SK, he was suspended for 90 games in the aftermath of drunk driving, and he cut his own career.
Kang Seung-ho, who got a chance to play again at Doosan, was very proud. As soon as he returned from disciplinary action in May 2021, he pushed out Oh Jae-won (38, retired) and started to solidify his position as the main second baseman by playing 113 games. Last year, he spent his first full-time season as the starting second baseman in earnest. He had a batting average of 0.235, 3 homers, and 37 RBIs in 74 games in the first half, but in 60 games in the second half, he hit 0.301, 7 homers, and 25 RBIs. Thanks to this, I was able to write a reversal drama that ranks first in the salary evaluation of non-FA beasts two years after transferring to Doosan. Last year’s annual salary was 115 million won, but this year it is expected to rise by more than 70%.
In an interview with SpotTV News on the 10th, Kang Seung-ho said, “I looked for a few records that I had seen rather than detailed records, and it usually fell a lot in the summer. I think it’s because of the problem. As the weather cools and my physical strength naturally recovers, it seems that my grades naturally go up,” he said. “Thank you for raising my salary more than I expected.”
During the first finishing camp with Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop in October and November of last year, I tried to continue the feeling of the second half of last season. Coach Lee asked Seung-ho Kang to hit 15 to 20 home runs in the new season. 토토
Kang Seung-ho said, “I was happy that the coach set a goal like that. Even if the coach didn’t say anything, it was a record I really wanted to try someday. I tried it, and it worked well for me.”
He added, “I’m happy to hit a career high with my first double-digit home run, but I think I’m still lacking. I think 10 double-digit numbers are too small. I think I can say I feel good when I hit at least 15 homers.”
Doosan added weight to the batting line by recruiting catcher Yang Eui-ji (36) in the FA market. Coach Lee is thinking of forming a central batting line with Yang Eui-ji, Kim Jae-hwan, Yang Seok-hwan, and Jose Rojas.
Koji Goto, Doosan hitting coach, instilled in Kang Seung-ho the belief that he could be a support during the finish camp. Kang Seung-ho said, “Coach Goto is a person who only talks about the strengths of a player. He told me that I am a good hitter. If I do it with the coach, I think I will be psychologically chased or anxious,” he said, promising that he will not be chased by pressure in the new year and will move toward his goal step by step.
Kang Seung-ho is currently a strong second baseman candidate, but Lee plans to compete with everyone blank in the Australian spring camp. Once he survives the competition, he is also capable of the 20 home run challenge.
Kang Seung-ho said, “I don’t think this is my position. There are many young and good junior infielders on our team. I think good results will come if we continue to compete in good faith without letting go of the tension.” I did, but I couldn’t. My New Year’s wish is to play all 144 games without injury,” he said with strength.