“Won Joong-yi, will you be watching from your bedroom next year?”
In the midst of the All-Star Game, where generous fan service was abundant, there was a sneaky (?) suggestion.
Doosan Bears’ Lee Young-ha sneaked up behind Lotte Giants’ Kim Won-joong. He joked, “Do you want to come to our room next year?”
Kim Won-joong joked back with his characteristically serious face, saying, “Are you really going?” The Giants TV representative eagerly replied, “You should stay,” and Hwang Sung-bin, who was sitting next to him, retorted, “So you’re coming as a compensation player?” causing the room to burst out laughing. “Where am I going, I have to stay in Busan,” Kim Won-joong said, ending the conversation.
Kim Won-joong will be a free agent after this season. He’s already signed with one of the best agencies in the industry.
Now he just needs to do what he does best, and it’s not easy.
After a steady performance in the middle of the season, Kim went 0-for-7 in the month of July. From July 21 to 31, he didn’t save a game in five consecutive games. His performance deteriorated to 1-5, 17 saves, and a 3.86 ERA.
It wasn’t until the 6th against the Busan NC Dinos that he broke the chain of nightmares. It was another bad day. Taking the mound in the top of the ninth inning with a 6-5 lead, Kim Won-joong struck out the first batter, Kim Joo-won, but back-to-back singles by Park Min-woo and Seo Ho-cheol put runners on second and third with no outs. Davidson followed with an automatic walk.
Then Kwon Hee-dong hit a hard grounder to third base. Choi Hwang made a spectacular jumping catch to save Kim Won-joong. 바카라사이트 He got the final out of the game on a grounder to shortstop, his first save in 38 days since June 28th.
At the end of the game, Won-joong Kim was not smiling; his expression was one of regret and anger rather than elation. “I didn’t play baseball, but I’m doing this interview,” he told the press after the game.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard, but there’s always tomorrow. I tried not to let it get to me. I threw harder every time I went out there, and I don’t think any athlete would have a bad game if they knew why they were having a bad game. When it doesn’t work, you can’t do anything. It’s not the first time I’ve had a slump like this, so I just let my ball win or the batter’s bat win! I just threw hard with a simple mind.”
As for his coach Kim Tae-hyung’s repeated trust,
He said, “I don’t take it for granted. I’m very grateful. I want to show him the way he deserves on the mound. He might have unknowingly let complacency linger in the back of my mind, and the only way to repay him is to throw more confidently.” His nonchalant response to the question reflected his struggles.
“I think it’s harder for him than for us because he cheers passionately throughout the game. That’s why I’m throwing like this. It gave me the strength to get back on the mound again today,” he said, thanking the fans.
As he sat in the dugout, Kim Won-joong was bombarded with cheers from the fans. “I love you,” “cheers,” and other words of support.
One middle-aged fan’s screams were particularly impressive, as he affectionately criticized Kim in his thick Busan dialect, saying, “(Kim) Won-joong, do well!” “Do you want to go back to your hometown?” he asked, raising his voice.
Kim Won-joong is from Dongseong High School in Gwangju. He often trains with his juniors in his hometown during the off-season. He also meets with the younger players in his hometown before games against the Kia Tigers.
It’s been 13 years since he was drafted in the first round in 2012. That’s why Lotte fans have doubts about his future as a free agent.
“I’m not going!” Kim Won-joong replied loudly. “I’ll do well! Woohoohooh!” he responded, delighting the fans.