"As long as you don't get sick, you're the main player."" 19-year-old rookie starts shortstop, Lee Kang-chul 'Infinite Trust' [the site of a water source]

*This content was translated by AI.

"It's a week before, but I have to go all the way to the end."

The 19-year-old high school rookie has already secured the starting shortstop position for the opening game. This is KT Wiz rookie infielder Lee Kang-min (19).

KT manager Lee Kang-chul (60) reaffirmed his intention to entrust him with the main shortstop this season, saying about Lee Kang-min ahead of the 2026 KBO League exhibition game against the Doosan Bears at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 23rd, "As long as I don't get sick, I'm going as long as I don't get hurt."

Lee Kang-min, who graduated from Yushin High School, was selected by KT as the 16th in the second round in the 2026 rookie draft. down payment of 130 million won. He is now a freshman who has just set foot on the professional stage, but head coach Lee Kang-chul is giving full trust by playing Lee Kang-min as the starting shortstop in 10 of the 11 games, including this day's exhibition game.

Lee Kang-min's biggest advantage is his stable defense. This is why it caught the eye of coach Lee, who values the defense of the infielder. Hit is also evaluated as improving contact ability.

Until the previous day, his performance in exhibition games was four hits in 26 at-bats (batting average 0.154) with two doubles, an RBI and a steal in 10 games. There were two defensive errors.

Still, coach Lee Kang-chul said, "I'm doing well." "I'm rather fortunate that I took the mistake quickly (during the trial game). "It's better to do a lot now," he said, adding, "Other players make mistakes, but Kangmin is a player with a much more future."

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*This content was translated by AI.