KBO President Heo Goo-yeon was most surprised by 'this player.' Just how much should be paid for an FA?

*This content was translated by AI.

This year's KBO All-Star Game, which brought joy to all baseball fans, drew particular attention from Heo Goo-yeon, president of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and former baseball commentator. The player who stood out most was Kim Ho-ryeong (34), a 'potential free agent (FA)' for the KIA Tigers.

When President Heo briefly took the microphone at the All-Star Game, he firmly stated that Kim Ho-ryeong was the player who surprised him the most this year. "I didn't expect him to hit so well. It was almost unbelievable that it was really Kim Ho-ryeong," he said, offering high praise without holding back.

President Heo added, "In the past, he was known for his strong defense and base-running skills, but now he's even hitting home runs, showing a clear leap in ability. I was impressed by how much he has developed in batting," repeatedly giving him a thumbs-up.

Kim Ho-ryeong has played 89 games this season, recording a .283 batting average (98 hits in 346 at-bats), 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, 57 runs scored, 12 stolen bases (with 4 failures), 22 doubles, 1 triple, 23 walks, 99 strikeouts, a .448 slugging percentage, a .329 on-base percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.777.

In the four games played during the second half of the season, he led the KIA lineup with a .353 batting average (6 hits in 17 at-bats), 2 RBIs, 7 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and 3 walks.

On the 19th against the Incheon SSG Landers, he started as the leadoff hitter and center fielder, hitting a game-winning hit. He went 1-for-4 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases, showing exceptional performance.

Notably, in the eighth inning with the score tied at 5-5 and two outs with runners on second and third, he delivered a crucial two-run double to break the tie, making it 6-5. The team ultimately won 9-5, and Kim Ho-ryeong's hit became the game-winning RBI.

Earlier, on the 17th, he went 1-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored, and on the 18th, he recorded 3 hits and 3 runs scored, demonstrating his dominance.

The team's manager also did not hold back on praise. Lee Beom-ho, KIA's manager, said, "It would be no exaggeration to say that this series was led by Kim Ho-ryeong," while giving him a thumbs-up.

Kim Ho-ryeong graduated from Gwansan Elementary School, Ansan Jungang Middle School, Gunsan High School, and Dongguk University. He joined KIA in the 2015 rookie draft as the 102nd overall pick in the second round of the 10th round. This year marks his 12th season with KIA, making him a franchise star.

Kim Ho-ryeong will gain FA eligibility after this season ends. His value continues to rise steadily. Already, his name is frequently linked with teams that have weaknesses in the outfield, particularly center field.

Kim Ho-ryeong said, "The manager tells me every day without fail to sign a contract. Since the beginning of the year, whenever I greet him, he asks, 'Why haven't you signed yet?' and I just laugh it off each time." He added, "I want to hit over .300, but staying around .280 has made it difficult. My goal is to raise my batting average above .300," showing his determination.

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*This content was translated by AI.