“We’re alive and well”…KIUM’s primary appointee emphasizes that KIUM still has a ‘franchise’ [SS Eye on the Prize]

“I wanted to show that the franchise players who are still on the team are alive and well.”

After joining the Kiwoom Heroes in the first round in 2014, Lim has long since shed the “prospect” label and worked his way up through the ranks. Outfielder Lim Byung-wook, 28, who has been playing for Kiwoom for seven seasons, excluding his military service, is one of the few remaining “franchise” players in the organization.

Kiwoom sent its signature “franchise” pitcher Choi Won-tae (26) to the LG Twins in a trade on March 29, and has since crashed and burned without wings. They are 2-15 over the last 17 days with a 0.118 winning percentage, last in the league.

Kiwoom bounced back with a three-game series against the Lotte Giants last weekend (winning all three games), their first “sweep” in 59 days. After the last 10 days, however, the Keys have slipped to 10th place in 835 days. After nine postseason appearances in the last 10 years메이저놀이터, the KIUM has been a “fall baseball” regular, but it’s been a tough road this season.

Kiwoom’s No. 8 batter Lim Byung-wook celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of the 2023 baseball game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Lotte Giants at the Gocheok Sky Dome on Tuesday. By Go Chuck | Kang Young-jo [email protected]

One person who might find this situation more awkward than anyone else is Kiwoom’s other “franchise” player, Lim Byung-wook. “I hope today’s game will show that the remaining franchise players are still alive and well,” he told reporters after a 7-6 home win over Lotte on Tuesday.

Lim batted eighth in the lineup and hit a two-run home run off Lotte starter Park Se-woong with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, giving the team a chance to come back from a 1-4 deficit. In addition to Lim Byung-wook, pitcher Ha Young-min (28), who joined Kiwoom in the second round in 2014, laid the foundation for the comeback victory by pitching 2.1 innings of one-run ball with the bases loaded after starter Oh Sang-won collapsed early in the second inning.

Kiwoom right-handed bullpen Ha Young-min. Go Chuck | Kang Young-jo [email protected]

In addition, franchise players Moon Sung-hyun (4th round, 2010), Kim Hye-sung (1st round, 2017), Song Sung-moon (5th round, 2015), and Kim Jae-woong (6th round, 2017) are still playing for Kiwoom. All of them played in the match and gave their best. We can’t forget about “superstar” Lee Jung-hoo (1st round, 2017), who is rehabbing at the Goyang second team training ground due to injury.

Lim Byung-wook’s words show that Kiwoom, which has a reputation for collecting and selling promising players, still has many “franchise” players, and they are still working hard every day to do their part and repay their fans.

Kiwoom second baseman Kim Hye-sung celebrates after hitting a two-run double in the seventh inning of the 2023 baseball game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome on Tuesday. Gocheok | Kang Young-jo Reporter [email protected]

The Heroes are having a rough season. After virtually declaring a “rebuild,” sending off Choi Won-tae and receiving prospects Lee Ju-hyung and Kim Dong-gyu, as well as a first-round pick in the 2024 rookie draft, Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki and his players have yet to give up on the season. And at the center of it all are the Heroes “franchise” players. [email protected]