For the first time since joining the Hanwha Eagles, Kim Kang-min (41) was more cheerful than expected. Kim met with reporters at Incheon International Airport before traveling to Australia for Hanwha’s spring training camp on Tuesday. Dressed in a youthful suit, Kim said, “I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about what questions would be asked.” He added, “I had to turn down many interviews because of my situation. I apologize and thank you for your patience,” he said with a smile. Kim, who has only played for the SSG Landers and SK Wyverns (SSG’s predecessor) since 2001, was a surprise selection by Hanwha in the second round of the KBO draft on Nov. 22 last year. SSG was criticized for not keeping him on the 35-man roster, which led to his sudden departure.

Kim was shocked at the time as he contemplated whether to retire, and even after deciding to continue his career with Hanwha, he didn’t speak to the media for about three months. “First of all, I’m a professional baseball player, so I focused on playing baseball. I made a decision that allowed me to play as a player,” he said, adding that he couldn’t afford to think about anything else. “Now I was thinking about how I would look in the ballpark and on the field,” he said, “so I started working out early and spent a lot of time getting in shape.” “I have a lot of expectations and excitement for the new team,” said Kim, adding, “I felt awkward in (the new uniforms), but the material was very comfortable. I’m sure I’ll get used to it if I keep wearing it,” he said with a laugh .However, the memories of SSG after 23 years of service cannot suddenly disappear.

“I want to say thank you to SSG fans, I can’t forget that long time,” Kim said, adding, “I still love SSG as a team. There are some juniors who have been there for a long time, so I don’t have any bad feelings .”His affection for SSG fans is also reflected in the number he wears on his Hanwha jersey (No. 9). In SSG, he wore number 0.”I thought that number 0 would be the number that SSG and SK fans would remember me by,” Kim explains, “and I want to be remembered by Hanwha with a different number.” As for the meaning of number 9, he said, “It’s simple. “I wanted to wear a single-digit number, and I was more familiar with the number 9 because I remember 카지노사이트 wearing it in the national team,” he said.