*This content was translated by AI.
Hong Gun-hee (34), who returned to KIA Tigers, confessed his hard work before signing a contract with his former team. It also revealed for the first time why it chose a one-year contract of 700 million won instead of giving up a guaranteed two-year contract of 1.5 billion won.
On the 23rd, the KIA Tigers team left for Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, the venue of the spring camp, via Gimpo International Airport. They will pass through Tokyo, stay for a day, and then enter Amami-Oshima on the 24th. Prior to this, on the previous day (22nd), four foreign players, including coach Lee Bum-ho and the coaching staff, James Nail, Adam Oler, Harold Castro and Gerid Dale (Asia Quarter), headed to Amami-Oshima first.
Hong Gun-hee, who was interviewed by reporters on the day, said, "I played for Doosan for about six years, and now I'm back, so I feel really new. I'm very excited and looking forward to it, but rather than that, there are fans' expectations that I should definitely do well when I come back. That's why I'll only think about that and prepare well so that I can come back and show you a good side," he said.
Hong Gun-hee was able to make a choice to remain with the Doosan Bears, but he boldly came to the market and chose to be evaluated.
Hong Gun-hee said, "I also had a two-year and 1.5 billion won contract with Doosan," adding, "Honestly, I think it's the first time I'm talking about it, but now I wanted to make the contract period longer than the greed of money." I came out because I had such greed, but the situation was not as good as I expected, so it was very difficult. But anyway, it's been a while, and now I've signed a new contract with my old team. "Now, I think I should do well and prove it for a year, and reverse the evaluation of elbow issues," he said.
Hong Gun-hee then said, "Even when I signed an FA contract (with Doosan), I stamped it just before the departure of the camp. It was hard then and it was hard this time, but I was able to faithfully concentrate on my exercise because I experienced it. Also, I think I've been preparing well because I have to continue baseball no matter which team I sign with. "There will be no big problems in making the body in the spring camp," he said.
He said, "I'm in my mid-30s now, but I think I can do a lot more when I see my physical condition. I have to prove that I am healthy because I had an injury issue last year. "I think if I put in as much performance as I did when Doosan was in full swing with that healthy appearance, I will reverse that evaluation," he said.
Meanwhile, Hong Gun-hee signed a one-year contract for a total of 700 million won, including 650 million won in annual salary and 50 million won in incentives, on the 21st of KIA. It was the moment when Hong Gun-hee, who moved to Doosan through a trade in June 2020, returned to her home after six years.
Hong Gun-hee, who graduated from Hwasun Elementary School, Hwasun Middle School, and Hwasun High School, wore the KIA Tigers uniform as the ninth overall pick in the second round in the 2011 rookie draft. And he transferred to the Doosan Bears through a trade in June 2020. For Hong Gun-hee, the trade became a godsend. After performing well, he even signed an FA contract ahead of the 2023 season. It was stamped on the condition of up to 2.45 billion won (down payment of 300 million won, annual salary of 2.1 billion won, incentive of 50 million won) for 2+2 years.
In the 2024 season, Hong Gun-hee played an active role as a must-win player. In 65 games, he played with 4 wins, 3 losses, 9 saves, 11 holds, and a 2.73 ERA, all-weather. While throwing a total of 59 ⅓ innings, he recorded 55 hits (five home runs), 33 walks, 45 strikeouts, 22 runs (18 earned runs), WHIP (on-base allowance per inning) 1.48 and a batting average of 0.253. Moreover, Hong Gun-hee was even more motivated as a "preliminary FA" to qualify as an FA after the 2025 season. As the oldest member of the pitching team, he steadily prepared for this season with his younger juniors, and joined the team belatedly.
However, his performance did not support him clearly. Hong Geon-hee pitched 16 innings in 20 games last season, posting a record of 2 wins and 15 strikeouts with a 6.19 ERA. In the end, Hong Gun-hee said he would trigger an opt-out to the Doosan club after last year's season. After the two-year contract was over, there was an option that the player could become a free agent instead of giving up the guaranteed amount of "two-year 1.5 billion won." It was a condition to give up the remaining salary and become a free agent when the opt-out was triggered, but Hong Gun-hee chose to be evaluated by the mayor.
And this time, he returned to his home team with KIA's proposal. Hong Gun-hee pitched 677 innings in 488 games in 12 KBO league seasons with a 4.92 ERA with 27 wins, 58 saves, 55 holds, and 602 strikeouts.
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*This content was translated by AI.
