Ji Soo-wan, who reflected on his complacency in the past, said, "I will not make the same mistake→I want to get a good chance in Ulsan."

*This content was translated by AI.

"When I took a step back and watched baseball, I finally saw myself. I now realize how complacent I was and how impatient I was."

Ji Ji Ji-wan (32), who showed the possibility of being a "main catcher" in the Hanwha Eagles and Lotte Giants, went out again to wear a mask in the professional league. He participated in the "Ulsan Wales Tryout" held at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium on the 14th and expressed his strong desire to return to the professional league.

After graduating from Cheong High School, Ji Ji-wan joined Hanwha as a nurturing player in the 2014 season. He made the first team stage in the 2015 season and played as many as 99 games in the 2018 season. Ahead of the 2020 season, he changed to Lotte's uniform through trade. It was a trade in which Ji Ji-wan and Kim Joo-hyun went to Lotte, and Jang Si-hwan and Kim Hyun-woo moved to Hanwha.

After spending four seasons with Lotte, he was released by Lotte in June 2024. He failed to secure a full starting line and even came to Ips. After playing for Yeoncheon Miracle, an independent baseball team, he announced his retirement ahead of the 2025 season. However, he couldn't completely let go of his dream of returning to active duty. Until recently, he said that he had trained students and social baseball players by giving lessons at a baseball center in Changwon. Ji Ji-wan said, "The people I met at the center told me to go to the ballpark quickly. He told me not to make him train hard and to return to the field quickly," he said.

In fact, Ji Ji-wan said he was considering returning to the independent league for the 2026 season. Then, news of the establishment of Ulsan Wales came out and even participated in the tryout. He said, "There was a lot of talk about the establishment of the Ulsan baseball team. Personally, I think I have a good opportunity because the timing is so good," he said.

A year away from the player was not just a hiatus for Ji Ji-wan. I had time to look at baseball from the perspective of a coach who guides others and look back on myself as a player.

Ji Ji-wan confessed, "I felt how complacent I was when I watched baseball from behind one foot over the past year." He continued, "The view has also expanded. It was a time to feel how complacent, impatient, and lacking when I was a professional. Now I'm much calmer than before, and I think I can use that experience now," he added.

Currently, Ji Ji's biggest tasks are weight loss and recovery of the sense of practice. He said, "I've gained some weight, so I'm steadily losing weight. However, he said, "I'm building my body little by little because I shouldn't lose too much weight," but added, "My sense of pitching, pitcher lead, and blocking is not dead yet. He expressed confidence, saying, "As much as I have more experience, I can help the team much more."

If he is accepted to Ulsan Wales, he is determined. It means that I will not repeat the mistakes of the past. Ji Ji-wan said, "I don't want to repeat the complacent parts of being a professional again. I won't make the same mistake. I left the ballpark emphasizing that I want to help the team, play a role that does not miss any of them, and help the team.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.