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MLB exhibition game opens on the 23rd... Lee Jeong-hoo's SF first game on the 25th
Dodgers-San Diego, ahead of the 'Seoul Series', regained San Diego's starting shortstop before the opening game on the 23rd.
Kim Ha-seong, 'ready to go', 'split contract' Mets' Choi Ji-man challenges to re-enter the big league in the exhibition game.
The 2024 American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB) exhibition game will begin on the 23rd (Korean time) with the opening game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
The two teams that will be the first to open the regular season among big league clubs through the 'MLB Seoul Series' to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th and 21st of next month will also be the first to play exhibition games.
Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego), who will be eligible as a free agent (FA) at the end of this season, will return to his original position as shortstop and welcome the opening of the exhibition game. 카지노사이트위키
At the start of spring training, San Diego coach Mike Silt said, "The existing starting shortstop, Sander Boharz, will move to second base, and Ha-seong Kim will play shortstop. Boharz also understands that having Ha-seong Kim play as shortstop will help the team.
“I do it,” he declared.
The defensive ability of Ha-seong Kim, who has played top-class defense at shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman since entering the big league in 2021, has been recognized.
Ha-seong Kim played as a second baseman in the opening game of last year's exhibition game, and won the Gold Glove Award in the utility category while guarding the field as a second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop during the regular season.
For Kim Ha-seong, the team's key player, the exhibition game is literally a stage to 'warm up', while for Ko Woo-seok (25), who joined San Diego this year, it is a place to compete to be on the opening day roster.
Go Woo-seok signed a 2+1 year contract with San Diego last month worth up to $9.4 million.
Looking at the amount of money, it is expected that it will be easy to enter the opening game roster as long as there are no unexpected variables such as injuries or serious slumps.
The San Diego team is planning to check the team's position in earnest in an exhibition game with Go Woo-seok as one of the closer candidates.
As he left Korea on the 9th, Go Woo-seok expressed his determination, "I am a pitcher who has just begun his challenge. Rather than being conscious of the competition for the finish, I will only think about entering the opening roster and finishing the season in good health."
The Dodgers, who had the hottest Stove League season, decided not to use Shohei Ohtani (29) for the opening game of the exhibition game.
At the end of last year, Ohtani wore a Dodgers uniform for $700 million, the highest amount in MLB history.
Ohtani, who underwent elbow ligament joint surgery in September of last year and is concentrating on batting for the time being, recently hit a series of home runs during outdoor batting training at spring camp.
However, the Dodgers decided to focus on the opening game of the Seoul Series and control the pace of Ohtani's return.
‘Grandson of the Wind’ Lee Jeong-hoo (25, San Francisco Giants) will make his debut in the opening game of an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs on the 25th.
Lee Jung-hoo, who has been the most sophisticated hitter in the KBO League for the past seven years, wore a San Francisco uniform through a large six-year contract worth a total of $113 million.
San Francisco coach Bob Melvin is showing strong trust, saying, “It would be strange if Lee Jung-hoo did not play in the opening game.”
Lee Jeong-hoo also took his first step toward adapting to the big league by playing as the number one hitter and center fielder in the opening game of the exhibition game.
In an interview with reporters including Yonhap News on the first day of the club's spring camp on the 14th, Lee Jeong-hoo said, "I am prioritizing participation in exhibition games in order to quickly adapt to the league. I am
looking forward to playing as a leadoff (number one hitter) and will prepare well. "It was stated.
Pittsburgh Pirates Bae Ji-hwan (24) will begin the competition for the starting second baseman position in the opening game of an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins on the 25th.
Bae Ji-hwan is competing with Leeover Peguero, Nick Gonzalez, and Alika Williams for the second base position in Pittsburgh.
Bae Ji-hwan, who played in 111 games last year, has the most experience.
His competitiveness is also reflected in the fact that he ranked first in the team with 24 stolen bases last year.
However, he must improve his batting performance last year, which was only 0.231 batting average and 0.608 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage), to maintain his place in the big league throughout the season.
Bae Ji-hwan expressed his aspirations in an interview about his departure last month, saying, "I need to improve my swing and batting, so I'm leaving early.
I want to steal up to 60 bases someday."
Choi Ji-man (32), who signed a one-year split contract with the New York Mets only on the 17th, is attempting to enter the big league again.
Choi Ji-man, who has been active in MLB as a starting first baseman and left-handed hitter, played in 39 games last year due to injury, recording only a batting average of 0.163, 6 home runs, and 13 RBI.
His split contract is a contract that differentiates his salary when he is promoted to the major leagues and when he stays in the minor leagues.
Choi Ji-man can receive a total of $3.5 million per year, including bonuses, if he is included in the opening day roster.
Ji-Man Choi will compete for survival from the opening game of the exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals on the 25th.
Choi Ji-man's agency, GSM, said, "There were teams that offered Choi Ji-man an MLB contract worth about $1 million per year, but the Mets accepted a split contract because he could enter the Opening Day roster as long as he showed a healthy appearance."
Park Hyo-jun (27, Oakland Athletics), who is attempting to enter the big league for the first time in two years, is in an even more desperate situation.
Last year, he signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves and did not even receive an invitation to spring training, but this year he is aiming for a comeback in Oakland.
Oakland ranked last in overall winning percentage in the major leagues last year with 50 wins and 112 losses.
As power drops, opportunities are open to Park Hyo-jun.
Oakland will play its first exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies on the 25th.
Since Oakland has invited a large number of invited players to this spring camp, Park Hyo-jun must leave a strong impression in the early stages of the exhibition games to continue receiving opportunities.