"I hated how I regretted it." Doosan → 2.2 billion won, which played for 18 years, became SSG, and Kim Jae-hwan revealed the background of the transfer [Incheon site]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I didn't want to show any more remorse."

He chose to move at the end of his career, leaving behind the Doosan Bears, who played for as many as 18 years. Controversy arose during the transfer process, but Kim Jae-hwan (38, SSG Landers) had a reason to leave the team.

Kim Jae-hwan met with reporters ahead of his departure to Vero Beach, Florida, USA, for the first SSG spring camp through Incheon International Airport on the 19th and said, "There were so many parts (for transfer reasons) and I didn't want to show any more regret," adding, "I was so big." As a result, I think I came to this choice," he said.

Kim Jae-hwan, who wore Doosan's uniform as the fourth overall pick in the second round of the 2008 rookie draft, began to shine by hitting 37 home runs in 2016. In 2018, he became Jamsil's home run king with 44 home runs, and until last year, he had 276 home runs in total, representing the league and playing as Doosan's No. 4 hitter.

After the 2021 season, he became the first free agent (FA) in his career and remained at 11.5 billion won for four years. It was a special treatment for the big guns that led Doosan to three wins, and I only knew that their performance would continue.

However, the following year, it began to go downhill. Ahead of the 2024 season, he expressed his willingness to rebound to the extent that he went to the "Kang Jung-ho Academy" and seemed to revive with 29 home runs and 29 RBIs, but he left a regret with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs in 103 games last season and 0.758 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).

Kim Jae-hwan, who became an FA again, made an unexpected choice. Initially, there was a condition to negotiate with Doosan first after the expiration of the four-year contract, but there was a condition that it would be released if the contract broke down, but the contract was not renewed and the option was activated, so Kim Jae-hwan signed a two-year, 2.2 billion won (down payment of 600 million won, annual salary of 1 billion won, option 600 million won) with SSG without delivering any compensation to Doosan.

Criticism arose for exploiting the terms of the contract. Doosan fans felt more betrayed because they did not perform well worth 11.5 billion won for four years.

It is known that it was a burden to use Jamsil, the largest stadium in the KBO League, as a home due to the ups and downs. Therefore, it seemed that he transferred to SSG, which uses a relatively batter-friendly stadium.

But this was not the only one. There was another psychologically difficult thing to overcome. Regarding the expression "regretting," Kim Jae-hwan said, "It's like people (disappointed) watching me stand at the plate in Jamsil. "It's so complex that it's hard to explain," he said. "I think those images made me (tough) too much."

When asked if he had properly used the contract clause, Kim Jae-hwan said, "I'll tell you about it step by step. I'm sorry," he said cautiously.

Choi Jung, Guillermo Herredia, Han Yu Island, and Ko Myung-jun, who is showing rapid growth. On top of that, Kim Jae-hwan is SSG with the prowess of the big guns. Kim Jae-hwan, who said the new team is still unfamiliar, said, "I prepared as usual and prepared more weight training and technically," adding, "In fact, there was a lot of pressure, but I think the pressure disappeared for the first time after moving the team. "I don't think I had time to think about that because I thought I had to adapt to a new team and wear this team's uniform, rather than 'I have to be really good.'

As for the new stadium, "I think I'm more curious than I expected." If I expect more performance just because the size of the ballpark has become smaller, it may become more powerful and rigid. Now, I think I'm more curious about what it will be like than such expectations, he said. "The team performed so well last year, and the goal is to prepare more thoroughly so that it can be in a higher position this season, so that it can be done until the end without getting hurt."

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*This content was translated by AI.