Catcher-turned-pitcher Kim Kang-hyun has been added to the first team roster as a pitcher.
Lotte Giants manager Larry Sutton announced the first-team roster changes ahead of the team’s sixth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the Samsung Lions at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Nov. 11. Pitcher Jang Se-jin is down and Kim Kang-hyun is up. 메이저놀이터
The name Kim Kang-hyun may not be familiar to many baseball fans. He made his professional debut in 2015 under the name Kim Ho-joon, being named the 2015 Lotte Developmental Player of the Year. He was a catcher at the time.
After a twisty road that included being released and serving in the military, Kim made the switch to pitching after the 2021 season after recording five first-team appearances as a catcher.
After going 4-2 with a 6.04 ERA in 16 games and one save in the 2022 Futures League, Kim posted a 5.40 ERA in 10 games and three saves in the Futures League this season. Despite getting off to a slow start this season due to a pre-season injury, he hasn’t been bad in the Futures League. Eight of his 10 games have been shutouts. He is currently on a six-match clean sheet streak.
And now he’s on the mound of his dreams. It’s the first time he’s been named to the first team as a pitcher instead of a catcher.
Before the game, Sutton said, “He’s a control pitcher. As you know, it’s been a tough week for our bullpen. I think he’s going to be a great addition to the first team, and I’ve gotten reports that he’s shown some good stuff in the second team as well.”
“I wasn’t nervous when I came up to the first team as a catcher, but I think I’ll be nervous when I go up to the mound as a pitcher,” said Kim, who was interviewed shortly before the start of the game. “If we have the same vision, he’s a great player and has very good feelings.”