"Raising two kids, but only in the minor league..." Kim Woong-bin, who shed tears thinking of his wife, was able to endure thanks to Heo Moon-hoe

*This content was translated by AI.

A breathless, back-and-forth battle of comebacks and re-comebacks. The final punctuation mark was struck by the bat of Kim Woong-bin (30), a third baseman for the Kiwoom Heroes in his 12th professional season. Shortly after hitting his first career walk-off home run in the first division, Kim's eyes were red with emotion rather than simply basking in joy. This was due to the sorrow of his long years of obscurity and the guilt he felt toward his family, who had quietly stood by his side.

On the 19th, Kim Woong-bin started at third base and batted sixth in the home game against the SSG Landers at Gocheok Sky Dome, located in Guro-gu, Seoul. With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning, one out, and no runners on base, Kim pulled a 146 km/h inside fastball on the low side from opposing closer Jo Byeong-hyun's third pitch. The ball soared over the deepest part of Gocheok Dome, drawing a solo home run arch over the center field. The distance of the hit was a massive 130 meters. It was also a thrilling walk-off home run that led the team to a two-game winning streak.

Kim Woong-bin, who entered the professional ranks through the 2015 rookie draft, recorded his first walk-off hit and home run in the first division. When asked to describe the home run situation, he exhaled the breath he had been holding, saying, "I felt heavy-hearted after making an error in the previous game, so I'm relieved that the result turned out well."

In fact, for Kim Woong-bin, every at-bat is like a crossroads of survival. He was selected 27th overall in the second round of the 2015 rookie draft by SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers), a relatively high pick, but he donned the Heroes uniform through the second draft held ahead of the 2016 season. Despite high expectations, he struggled to secure a spot in the first division, spending more time in the Futures League (minor league) than in the first division from the 2023 season through this season. He appeared in only 12 games in the 2024 season and 10 games in the 2025 season, gradually fading from fans' memories. He admitted that the self-blame for not being able to repay those who supported him caused him significant emotional distress.

What held him back from the anxiety that filled him in the minor league were the warm words of his coaches and his two children and wife growing up at home. Kim Woong-bin cited former Lotte Giants manager Heo Moon-hoe and current Kiwoom Futures League manager Oh Yoon as the benefactors who supported him during difficult times. "Manager Heo always told me, 'You have talent, so just endure it,' and Manager Oh also motivated me by saying, 'If you try a little harder, an opportunity will come, so endure it,'" he expressed his gratitude. In reality, he completely let go of his worries this year. He also confessed his inner thoughts: "I believe opportunities are given by God, so I resolved to cherish every game and every at-bat and play baseball without regrets."

When asked who he missed the most, Kim Woong-bin finally broke down, releasing the suppressed emotion. The protagonist was his wife. "I feel most sorry and grateful to my wife. My first child is 36 months old and my second is 8 months old. Even while I was only in the minor league, she always quietly took care of everything behind the scenes. I feel I haven't been able to repay her enough, so the feeling of guilt was the strongest," Kim said in a trembling voice.

Sincere congratulations from friends of a similar age also moved him to tears. Immediately after the game, his "best friend" Im Byung-wook ran over and hugged him tightly, bringing a flood of emotions. "(Im) Byung-wook, (Im) Ji-yeol, (Ha) Young-min, and even (Kim) Tae-jin, who is currently recovering from surgery, are all close friends. Especially with Byung-wook, we went through many hardships together in the minor league until recently, so I think he hugged me because he understood my feelings so well," he said gratefully.

Carrying the heavy burden of being the family's main provider, Kim Woong-bin became the hero of Gocheok Dome for the SSG game on the 19th. With his tearful first walk-off home run dedicated to his wife as a stepping stone, it remains to be seen whether he can transform into a true first-division infielder.

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*This content was translated by AI.