'Move to SSG without compensation' → Kim Jae-hwan, who said, "I am truly sorry," heads to Doosan Jamsil for an away game

*This content was translated by AI.

The highly anticipated match, expected since before the season, is finally underway. Kim Jae-hwan (38, SSG Landers), who was a 'Bearsman' until last year, visits the home field of his former team, Doosan Bears, at Jamsil Stadium for the first time since his transfer.

Starting from the 8th, SSG will travel to Jamsil Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, for a three-game weekend series against Doosan Bears.

Kim Jae-hwan, who joined Doosan in the second round of the 2008 draft, played 15 seasons in the first division before transferring. Although he spent a long period of obscurity with Doosan, he emerged as a representative slugger of the league from 2016 onward, winning the home run champion title and the season's Most Valuable Player (MVP). After finishing last season, he surprisingly signed a two-year contract with SSG worth up to 2.2 billion won (600 million won signing bonus, 1 billion won total annual salary, and 600 million won in options).

After the 2021 season, he first became a free agent (FA) and signed a four-year, 11.5 billion won contract. This contract included a condition that he would conduct priority negotiations with Doosan after signing.

Controversy arose during this process. The condition of priority negotiations included an option stating, "If no agreement is reached, he will be released as an FA." As a result, Kim Jae-hwan became a completely free agent without even applying for FA status. Consequently, Doosan lost its status as the original team and had to watch Kim's transfer without receiving any compensation. Since his salary the previous year reached 1 billion won, Kim was scheduled to be classified as a B-grade player. Had he transferred, Doosan could have received 2 billion won in compensation or 1 billion won plus one additional compensation player in addition to 25 protected players. However, all of this was nullified.

Public criticism arose over the exploitation of regulations, and significant resentment grew among Doosan fans. The KBO also reached a consensus on the need to improve the system to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Kim Jae-hwan also expressed his apology through his social networking service (SNS), stating, "I am well aware that there were many voices of criticism and disappointment regarding my choice. I will never take lightly any words or reprimands sent by the fans. I sincerely apologize for hurting your hearts with my performance and choices that fell short of expectations."

Despite Kim Jae-hwan's strong desire to transfer even at the risk of public criticism, he has yet to see the expected results. Despite playing in a hitter-friendly stadium, he has managed only a .116 batting average (10 hits in 86 at-bats) in 25 games this season.

He recorded two home runs and 11 RBIs and drew 18 walks, but he has struggled with contact itself. He also struck out 27 times and was notified of a move to the minor league on the 27th of last month. At the time, manager Lee Sung-yong explained, "I saw him unable to swing his own bat and just trying to make contact. I thought in my heart that we should give him at least 100 plate appearances, but I decided it would be better to establish himself in the minor league. After the game, I spoke with Jae-hwan and decided to give him time."

He adjusted his batting feel with a .333 batting average (4 hits in 12 at-bats) in the Futures League and was called up immediately after ten days. Manager Lee Sung-yong, who used Kim Jae-hwan as the fifth designated hitter, said before the game, "I spoke with him yesterday. Usually, I receive reports, but he called directly. He said he prepared well. Coach Lee Myeong-gi also said the same. If he is called up, he must be used. Jae-hwan worked hard with Coach Lee Myeong-gi by his side. Both the club and the coaching staff did their best. We cannot relieve him of any burden. There are no technical issues. He has been struggling because the results have not come out."

In the game against NC Dinos on the 7th, he hit an RBI single. In the bottom of the third inning with one out and runners on first and third, after a full-count battle, he hit a changeup thrown outside by Curtis Taylor and dropped a hit in front of the center fielder. Although he struck out twice, considering his recent slump, the fact that he hit an RBI single immediately after being called up drew extra attention. It was even more meaningful as he brought in a runner with a technical swing rather than a full swing.

Earlier, in the home game against Doosan, he bowed his head with 10 at-bats, no hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Now, he moves to Jamsil to face the fans of his former team.

Attention will focus on how home fans will react depending on Kim Jae-hwan's first at-bat appearance and its outcome.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.