*This content was translated by AI.
"Don't I look good in (KT Wiz) clothes?" "I think it's better than I thought..."
Han Seung-hyuk (33, KT Wiz), who entered his first billion-dollar salary in his 16th year as a professional, could not hide his excitement.
Han Seung-hyuk met with reporters at Incheon International Airport ahead of his departure for KT's spring camp in Geelong, Australia, on the 21st. I think the club paid a lot of attention. It's also fascinating," he said honestly.
Last week, KT completed annual salary contracts with 64 people eligible for renewal. While KBO Rookie of the Year Ahn Hyun-min (23) broke the club's all-time increase rate with 445.5%, Han Seung-hyuk's salary also became a hot topic. It was an annual salary earned by Hanwha Eagles, not KT, to 300 million won, a 219.1% increase from 94 million won. Han Seung-hyuk led Hanwha to advance to the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years last year with 71 regular-season games, 3 wins, 3 losses, 16 holds, 3 saves, an ERA of 2.25 and 53 strikeouts in 64 innings.
Kang Baek-ho (27), who transferred from KT to Hanwha in a four-year, 10 billion won FA contract after the end of the season, changed his uniform. Perhaps that's why the veteran's face was full of excitement as he left his first spring camp with his new teammates.
Han Seung-hyuk said, "It's a spring camp that goes every year, but I think I'm a little more excited this year. "It took me a while to recognize the situation because I didn't expect it at the time of the nomination of the compensation player," he said. "Now I've finished organizing my mind." If you think about it, it wasn't even the first transfer. Also, when I came to the profession, I always tried to leave my salary and have a lot of responsibility, but this year, I really want to do it with that kind of mind," he said with strength.
He was once called the top high school prospect. He was also mentioned to advance to the Major League when he was a Deoksu player, but he joined the KIA Tigers as the eighth overall in the first round of the 2011 KBO Rookie Draft. However, it took a considerable amount of time for the talent to blossom. He received many opportunities as he went back and forth between the starting pitcher and the bullpen, but he failed in KIA. He gradually stabilized after moving to Hanwha through a trade in 2023, and achieved a career high last year.
Han Seung-hyuk said, "I had the longest season of my career last year. It was also the first time for the Korean Series, and in the second half, my physical strength fell a lot. I tried again to raise the ball power, but it wasn't easy," he said.
"When I moved to Hanwha three years ago, I thought I should do really well now. I thought about spending a year without regrets, but I think the impact is big. This year is also a very important year for me (FA after the season), but KT also needs to perform well with good power. "I'm trying to manage my physical strength so that I can catch both team and individual performances," he stressed.
The meeting with catcher Han Seung-taek (32), who was with him during the KIA period, helped him greatly to adapt. "I played catch with (Han) Seung-taek at Suwon Baseball Stadium during the winter," Han said. Maybe it's a little different from when I was at KIA, but he said, "It's a lot better than before." We know each other well, so we will quickly catch what we need and prepare well for this season," he said.
KT manager Lee Kang-chul, who has wanted to be a fireballer, couldn't hide his smile at Han Seung-hyuk's joining. Coach Lee Kang-chul, who met before leaving the country, said, "This year (Han) Seung-hyuk will be able to come and take care of the quality and quantity of the bullpen. "I threw in the eighth inning of the runner-up team, so wouldn't it be okay?" he said with a smile.
The expectation is also known by the billion-dollar annual salary transfer. Han Seung-hyuk said, "I think our pitching staff is really good regardless of starting or bullpen. I think we will have good results if we play our part," he said, adding, "Not only the veteran, but overall, he seemed to want to do well this year. I also have high expectations for our team's performance this year," he stressed.
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*This content was translated by AI.
