"Strange sources keep coming from around..." Park Jin-man delivers a stern warning to Kim Young-woong

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man (50) recently delivered a stern reprimand to "powerful infielder" Kim Young-woong (23), who was demoted to the minor league due to a prolonged slump in hitting performance. Park made it clear that simply waiting out the ten-day re-registration period would not guarantee an immediate return to the first division. He emphasized that Kim must regain his signature powerful swing and solid mental fortitude, rather than being swayed by outside opinions.

Kim Young-woong was removed from the first-division roster on the 14th after suffering a severe hitting slump. In 45 games this season, he posted a batting average of .173 (27 hits in 156 at-bats), with four home runs and 16 RBIs. His recent form was particularly poor: over his last 10 games, he hit just .107 (3 hits in 28 at-bats) with one home run and three RBIs, leading to his demotion to the minor league.

Ahead of the Doosan Bears game held on the 16th at Jamsil Stadium, when asked by StarNews about the timing and conditions for Kim's return, manager Park Jin-man was unequivocal. "There is no set plan for bringing (Kim Young-woong) back," Park stated firmly. "He must demonstrate clear improvement in the Futures League (minor league). He needs to overcome this slump on his own before returning."

The aspect that most concerns Manager Park is that Kim has lost his distinctive strengths. Park also pointed to "unnecessary interference from those around him" as a contributing factor to his struggles.

Manager Park noted, "People connected with baseball keep feeding him strange sources of information, and it seems the young player is being swept up in this and feeling stressed." He explained that under pressure from advice telling him not to strike out, Kim has shifted from his natural powerful full swing to a passive approach where he awkwardly tries to make contact with the ball.

Park continued, "Kim Young-woong is a hitter who should embrace strikeouts while maintaining his swing and hitting balance, which naturally leads to quality contact." He added, "Trying to avoid strikeouts by forcing contact will not yield good results. While other players might be different, Kim's hitting style cannot follow that path. Even if he goes hitless in seven or eight at-bats, he must stick to his own swing — that is how home runs and extra-base hits come about."

Nevertheless, Manager Park reiterated, "Kim Young-woong's unique ability to put pressure on opposing pitchers has completely disappeared. As a young player with limited experience, he may have been shaken by outside opinions, but ultimately, he must overcome this himself. He needs to return only after his mindset is fully stabilized."

The message from the manager is clear: Return not as a hitter who fears strikeouts, but as a slugger who instills intimidation in opposing pitchers.

In fact, Manager Park and Kim Young-woong share a special bond. Kim was drafted third overall in the second round of the 2022 Rookie Draft and underwent training under then-Futures League manager Park Jin-man during his debut season. From the 2023 season onward, when Park took command of the first division team, Kim's playing time increased significantly. He hit 20 home runs in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, establishing himself as a top-tier power-hitting infielder in the league. At the center of transforming Kim from an unfinished prospect into a reliable starting player with solid defense and explosive hitting power was Manager Park. Knowing the player better than anyone, Park did not hesitate to offer harsh criticism when necessary.

It remains to be seen whether Kim Young-woong, facing the manager's firm admonition, can shake off the surrounding noise and reopen the door to his first-division return by reclaiming his signature full swing.

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*This content was translated by AI.