The potential of KIA Tigers prospect Woo-hyeok Byun (23) has exploded. It hit the mound of the Korean national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
On the 20th (Korean time), Byun Woo-hyuk started as a 7th hitter and 3rd baseman in a practice match against the baseball team held at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Byun Woo-hyeok, who had been silent with a shortstop grounder in the first inning and strikeouts in two consecutive at-bats in the 3rd and 5th innings, exploded with an exciting long hit in the next hit.
In the 7th inning with one out, Byun Woo-hyeok faced teammate Lee Eui-ri and fired a home run over the left wall. It was a large home run that made it possible to intuit a home run the moment it hit.
On this day, Byun Woo-hyuk recorded 1 hit, 1 home run and 1 RBI in 5 at-bats. It was a home run produced in the first actual game, and produced against a national team pitcher. He must have meant something special to him.
After the game, Byun Woo-hyuk said, “It was a real match after six months. He had to deal with good pitchers, so he played the game with the thought of seeing a lot of balls without being greedy.”
What broke Byun Woo-hyuk’s silence was the advice of batting coach Lee Beom-ho. Byun Woo-hyuk said, “I felt like I was being dragged by the opposing pitcher until the third at-bat. After striking out in the third at-bat, I asked coach Lee Beom-ho for advice at the dugout. The coach said, ‘You seem to be chasing the ball. He gave me the advice, ‘Let’s catch it further back and hit it.’ From the next at-bat, contact was made well.” 먹튀검증
Byun Woo-hyuk also felt the thrilling taste. He said, “I think it led to a good result by thinking about coach Lee Bum-ho’s advice on the lost pitch. I felt like I passed it as soon as I got hit.”
Byun Woo-hyuk received a lot of attention by wearing a Hanwha Eagles uniform as the first nomination in the 2019 rookie draft. However, he only played 50 professional games in two seasons and recorded a batting average of 0.246, 4 home runs, 10 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.681, not fully blooming.
It was KIA that needed a right-handed gun that noticed the possibility of Byun Woo-hyuk. In November of last year, through a trade, he embraced Byun Woo-hyuk. Byun Woo-hyeok is an infielder capable of defending 1st and 3rd base, and is a young gun who has also completed military service.
KIA is nurturing Byun Woo-hyuk as the central hitter of the future. Byun Woo-hyuk said, “I still have little practical experience and there are many things I lack, but I am receiving a lot of help from the coaching staff technically and mentally. I will try harder and become a good player with this camp as an opportunity.”