ML-level super catch + power sprinting for multi-hit! NC's Kim Joo-won, who has experienced world-level play, is expanding his limits.

*This content was translated by AI.

NC Dinos' Kim Joo-won (24), who won his first career Golden Glove (GG) last year, is preparing for another leap forward.

On the 7th, Kim Joo-won started at leadoff and shortstop in the visiting game against SSG Landers at the Incheon SSG Landers Field during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, recording two hits and one RBI in six at-bats, leading NC to a 10-5 victory.

He ignited the previously quiet NC lineup with a power sprint. In the bottom of the third inning with two outs, Kim Joo-won hit a ground ball on the eighth pitch of a full-count at-bat against SSG starting pitcher Shota Takeba. SSG third baseman Hong Dae-in fielded the slow-moving ball and threw it to first base. However, the umpires ruled that Kim Joo-won was slightly faster, and the decision did not change despite SSG's video review request.

The spark Kim Joo-won lit exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning when NC was trailing 0-3. Starting with batter No. 4 Choi Jeong-won, the lineup scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Kim Joo-won contributed to the big inning. With one out and bases loaded, Kim Joo-won hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in one run to take a 4-3 lead, which held as the game-winning hit.

On defense, he drove the victory with an ML-level super catch that protected the team's lead and cut off the opponent's momentum. In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, while NC led 5-3, Kim Joo-won leaped to catch a ball heading toward left field from Hong Dae-in. Although it was a fast, high-flying ball that went over his head at a somewhat long distance, he jumped sideways to snag it, leaving the SSG bench laughing helplessly. Naturally, NC starting pitcher Curtis Taylor, who benefited from the defensive play, roared to express his gratitude.

Both his first hit and the defensive play in the bottom of the fourth were close calls that challenged his own limits. In a recent meeting with StarNews at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Kim Joo-won said, "It took a little time for my body to activate, but as I've been playing in games continuously, my balance is improving."

He added, "In batting, I'm trying my best not to miss any mistakes from the opponent. In defense, I'm paying a lot of attention to distinguishing what I should do and what I shouldn't. It seems that working on both has led to good results."

This is a goal that emerged after experiencing world-level play through his first appearance in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March. Kim Joo-won, who has been a member of the national team since 2023, experienced the level of the world's top players through this tournament. As a player with KBO's top-tier athleticism who is attracting attention from Major League Baseball (ML), he has found hints about the path forward.

Kim Joo-won stated, "Playing at such a high level was the biggest help to me. By facing high-quality pitchers and batters, I feel I've confirmed my maximum potential to some extent. Since I returned after seeing that, I have gained a lot of mental ease in my own play."

He continued, "For example, in defense, I need to calculate everything from catching the ball, throwing it, to where the ball will go. If even one of these is off, it becomes an overreaching play, and I had many such instances in the past. As plays that seemed possible started appearing before my eyes, I realized I need to play at my best. To do that, I need to have a wider perspective. This year, I'm focusing on distinguishing as much as possible which pitches to throw and which not to."

Kim Joo-won, a graduate of Yushin High School, was selected by NC in the second round, sixth pick of the 2021 KBO Rookie Draft. Five years later, he won his first Golden Glove last year. In 144 games, he achieved career highs in all aspects of offense, defense, and base running, with a batting average of 0.289 (156 hits in 539 at-bats), 15 home runs, 65 RBIs, 98 runs scored, 44 stolen bases, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.830.

Even though he has already reached the top domestically, two keywords that keep him from resting are his alma mater Yoo Sin-go-wa (CEO) team senior Park Sung-han (28, SSG). As rookies from Yushin High School are making names for themselves early in the season, Kim Joo-won, who plays a mentor role for them, is also quietly gaining attention. In the case of KT Wiz rookie shortstop Lee Kang-min (19), he even cites Kim Joo-won's advice as the secret to his batting average in scoring positions.

Kim Joo-won responded humbly, "(Lee) Kang-min mentioned something when he went to volunteer at our alma mater in the past, and it seems he hasn't forgotten it and is making good use of it. (Shin) Jae-in is also from the same school and seems to have adapted quickly, but I haven't helped much. I really feel that there are many more Yushin High School graduates these days. I also feel I need to do better."

If Yushin High School juniors instilled a sense of responsibility, then Golden Glove competitor Park Sung-han is a great senior who instills a desire to improve. Park Sung-han is leading the race for the batting title with a batting average of 0.419 (52 hits in 124 at-bats) and an OPS of 1.108 as of the end of the game on the 7th.

Regarding Park Sung-han's early-season performance, Kim Joo-won exclaimed, "He's really, really hitting well. It's unbelievable." He added, "I usually don't pay much attention to other players' stats, but when I watch highlights, I always see (Park) Sung-han getting hits, so I keep watching." He further emphasized, "It's not just Sung-han; when other players do well, I try hard not to fall behind. I think that if we all play well, the league level will rise significantly and positive synergy effects can occur."

As a six-year veteran dinosaur striving to become a good senior and the league's top shortstop, he is also working hard on physical management. Kim Joo-won said, "Baseball is not a very easy sport, so I think we must always maintain a learning attitude. There were many disappointing parts until April, but I'm glad that my pace has risen faster than in previous years. The training staff is taking good care of me, and I'm trying my best to eat well and stay hydrated."

He continued, "My balance is gradually returning, and I want to raise my pace a bit more until the first half, finish the season steadily without big fluctuations, and avoid injuries."

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*This content was translated by AI.