*This content was translated by AI.
KBO on-base king Hong Chang-ki (33, LG Twins), who is about to become a FA, aimed for the full-time season.
Hong Chang-ki met with reporters at Incheon International Airport ahead of his departure for the LG Spring Camp in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 22nd and said, "My goal is to have a healthy season this year. I'm not interested in playing in all games, but I think I'll be able to play all 144 games if I spend a healthy season. First of all, it's important to start the season healthy," he said.
Last year, Hong Chang-ki missed about four months due to a ruptured medial ligament in his left knee due to a collision with a teammate while defending the outfield. It is the first time Hong Chang-ki has played less than 60 games this season since 2020, when he became the main player. He marked a batting average of 0.287 (50 hits in 174 times at bat) in 51 regular-season games, one home run, 16 RBIs, 32 runs and three steals (On base rate + slugging rate) of 0.727, and failed to exert much effort in the Korean Series with a batting average of 0.167 (3 hits in 18 times at bat) in five games.
As a result, the annual salary negotiations were also stamped at 520 million won, down 130 million won (20 percent) from 650 million won. Negotiations on a non-FA multi-year contract have begun since the end of this season and are set to become an FA, but an agreement has not yet been reached. Hong Chang-ki, who was quiet about the multi-year contract, used the salary cut as an opportunity to motivate him. Rather than showing anything more, such as an increase in slugging power, he aimed to play a full-time season again.
Hong Chang-ki said, "I don't think I want to increase long-term hits. Rather, it seems to be less than when I say I want to increase it. Rather, I think I should aim to maintain the direction I play, hit more accurately, and increase the number of strong balls," he stressed.
Then he said, "I'm going to do what I used to do. Last year, he also preferred not to play in the team because his legs were bad and he should not get injured at the end of the season. First of all, I think healthy will be the biggest. I think I can help the team if I do what I've been doing healthy," he added.
If you think about it, last year, LG won the integrated championship even though Hong Chang-ki, the on-base ghost representing KBO, was injured and various restrictions were imposed. Hong Chang-ki has won three KBO on-base kings and two outfielder Golden Gloves in the past five years. Even though the core of the team was missing, LG filled the gap well with the growth of backup players.
This is why LG is talking about trying to win its second consecutive Korean Series title even though team leader Kim Hyun-soo (38) signed a three-year, 5 billion won FA contract and left for KT Wiz. Hong Chang-ki said, "Since I played in the first team, (Kim) Hyun-soo has never been absent. So honestly, I'm worried and I don't know what's going to happen. "It's a question mark about how negative it will be," he said, adding, "Hyun-soo is out, but there are many players who have returned, including (Lee) Jae-won and (Lee) Min-ho. (Kim)Yoonsik will also come soon. He also stressed that since we won in 2023 and have painful memories in 2024, if the players prepare well, they will be able to perform well enough.
The fact that the No. 1 hitter, who was in full swing last year, plays full-time is a plus factor for LG. Shin Seong-hyun-min (23, KT Wiz), who came up while he was injured, was also a good stimulus.
Hong Chang-ki said, "Even when I'm sick, (LG) won, so I think if I'm healthy, the probability of winning is higher. That's why health is the top priority," he said with emphasis. "I talked to (Ahn) Hyun-min at Saipan camp this time. I didn't talk much, but when I saw him practicing or training, I felt he was a really good hitter. I'm a challenger this year, so I'll prepare well and make a fun season," he said.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
