*This content was translated by AI.
The defensive position is still a concern even if the team is moved. Finding the position of Kang Baek-ho (27, Hanwha Eagles) is expected to be still a homework. However, he shook his head about the catcher.
Kang Baek-ho met with reporters at Incheon International Airport on the 23rd and asked about his position ahead of his departure from Hanwha's first spring camp in Melbourne, Australia, saying, "I'm not sure what to answer," adding, "I keep getting questions and seeing the catcher and seeing the outfield, but I'm also stressed out." I don't know how to answer it," he said.
Kang Baek-ho signed a four-year, maximum 10 billion won contract in this stove league and wore a Hanwha uniform. Expectations are high that he will play a key role in strengthening Hanwha's lineup, but defense is still a concern.
Kang Baek-ho, who wore the KT Wiz uniform as the No. 1 overall pick in the second round in 2018, played as an outfielder in the first two seasons, but played two years as a first baseman from 2020, mainly as a designated hitter in 2022, and as a right fielder and first baseman in 2023, but played most of them as designated hitters.
In the meantime, another change occurred. He played catcher with the designated hitter in 2024. Last year, most of them were designated hitters along with injuries. After the end of the season, he came to the free agent market and Hanwha reached out, but there was no clear answer to Kang Baek-ho's use of defense.
In the meantime, there were talks that he could be used as a catcher once again. Kang Baek-ho expressed caution about this before entering the camp in earnest.
"I was told to prepare a first base meet and an outfield glove. I heard that the first base is the top priority, he said. "I don't know because it's the day of the camp. First of all, I think I have to do my best in what I've been given and I've been working hard in all the positions, so I'm doing well in one place "If you look at it, I think you will adapt well without difficulty," he said.
Kang Baek-ho was evaluated as a batting genius. In 138 games in his debut season, he won the Rookie of the Year award with a batting average of 0.290 29 home runs and 84 RBIs and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 0.880 and has been listed in the top batting average for three consecutive seasons.
However, he later suffered from defensive concerns and controversy in international competitions, but he played in all 144 games in 2024 and rebounded with 26 home runs, 96 RBIs, 92 runs and an OPS of 0.840 points. Last year, he hit only 0.265 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs, but Hanwha decided that if Kang Baek-ho settled in one position and became stable, it would definitely help the team in hitting.
The first off-season training session for the new team. Kang Baek-ho said, "It's new. I'm still unfamiliar and want to do well, he said. "I couldn't sleep half worried and half excited." I'm worried because I'm moving the team. There's no way I can't be worried. "Whether it's good or bad, I think I'm starting with a new heart like this with worry and excitement," he said.
"I've been working out with the idea of starting from scratch, thinking that I'm starting from a new start in a new environment in the new team," he said. "In the future, I hope I'll adapt well and show myself in the season as much as I've prepared for the camp."
Expectations are very high. Kang Baek-ho said, "Anyway, it's a situation where we have to do well and I'm starting with a new mind, so I hope we do well and I think I should be strong this season," adding, "I think the best answer is to prepare more faithfully and show a good performance this season, rather than saying what I'm going to do here."
When asked if it is okay to look forward to it, he said, "It's a little too much not to say don't look forward to it," and added, "You can look forward to it." I will do my best," he said.
He stressed that he was always serious about baseball. "There's no year I didn't work hard. I worked really hard last year, too. "I worked so hard last year that I could count on one hand, but I was sorry that I got hurt," he said. "It would be the same for me to work hard and prepare well, but I think if I fill up the number of games without getting hurt, I think I will show enough good performance. I think the first thing is to prevent injury," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
