From the moment he put down the catcher's mitt and stepped on the mound, Kim Jae-yoon (33) made Oh Seung-hwan (41), the 'best closer in Korean baseball history', his idol.
On the 22nd, after signing a free agent contract with the professional baseball Samsung Lions for up to 5.8 billion won over 4 years (down payment of 2 billion won, total annual salary of 2.8 billion won, total incentive of 1 billion won), Kim Jae-yoon thought of Oh Seung-hwan.
Kim Jae-yoon said in a phone call with Yonhap News that day, "Is there a Korean pitcher who doesn't respect Seung-hwan Oh? Still, I like Seung-hwan Oh a little more than other pitchers. I never even imagined warming up with Seung-hwan Oh, but now that I imagine it, I like Seung-hwan Oh a little more than other pitchers." “It creates a pleasant sense of tension. I want to learn right next to senior Oh Seung-hwan,” he said.
The probability that Kim Jae-yoon's wish will come true is 'more than 50%'.
First of all, Jaeyoon Kim wore the Samsung uniform.
If Oh Seung-hwan, who has qualified as a free agent, completes his contract with his original club Samsung, Samsung can have a 'Oh Seung-hwan and Kim Jae-yoon double stopper system'.
Samsung's bullpen ranked last (10th) in this year's regula
r season with an average ERA of 5.16.
Samsung, which considered strengthening the bullpen as the biggest task of the off-season, actively sought to recruit Kim Jae-yoon, who played for KT Wiz, and finalized the free agent contract on the 22nd.
Samsung's will to "capture Oh Seung-hwan" is also strong.
Kim Jae-yoon said, "When Seung-hwan Oh was playing in the American Major League, KT set up a spring camp in the U.S. and we trained together. During this year's regular season, Seung-hwan Oh bought us food." He added, "I was so nervous to see my idol in front of me, so I asked all the questions I wanted to ask." “I couldn’t ask. If we play together at Samsung, I will ask and learn a lot of things,” he said.
After graduating from Whimoon High School, Jaeyoon Kim signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks of the American professional baseball team as a catcher in 2009.
Kim Jae-yoon, who played in the Rookie League and Single A, returned to Korea after being notified of his release, served in the military, and was selected as the 2nd special 13th pick by KT in 2015. Even when he was nominated to KT, Kim Jae-yoon's position was catcher.
However, in preparation for the 2015 season, KT's first coach Beom-Hyun Cho confirmed Kim Jae-Yoon's 'strong arms' and recommended that he become a pitcher.
Coach Beom-hyeon Cho at the time heard from the umpires during a practice game that "Kim Jae-yoon has been making extremely fast throws since high school," and after seeing him actually throw the ball, he was confident that "he would be able to succeed as a pitcher." 토토사이트
Since 2015, when the ‘youngest club’ KT entered the first team stage, Kim Jae-yoon has also been on the KBO League mound.
His KBO league career records are 481 games, 44 wins, 33 losses, 17 holds, 169 saves, and an earned run average of 3.58.
From 2021 to 2023, he achieved 30 saves for three consecutive seasons.
His records this season are 5 wins, 5 losses, 32 saves, and an ERA of 2.60.
Kim Jae-yoon recalled, “When I became a pitcher, I dreamed of making it to the first team, and once I got to the first team, I thought about holding on for as long as possible.” He added, “At the time, I couldn’t even imagine becoming a closing pitcher or even signing a free agent contract.” .
Looking back on the past, Kim Jae-yoon naturally feels grateful and sorry for KT.
Kim Jae-yoon said, "KT is 'my first team forever.' Thanks to the many people I met at KT, I was able to live as a professional baseball player until now. I am grateful to the fans who encouraged me even when I was performing poorly. I received so much love. “I still don’t realize that I left KT,” he said.
Kim Jae-yoon set the KT club's first 100 and 150 save records in succession. In Game 4 of the Korean Series, in which KT completed its first combined championship (regular season and Korean Series championship) in 2021, the pitcher who stayed on the mound at the end was Kim Jae-yoon.
Kim Jae-yoon said, “I played baseball happily at KT. No words can fully express my gratitude.”
However, Jaeyoon Kim is now on the mound to protect Samsung’s victory.
Samsung general manager Lee Jong-yeol said, “By recruiting Kim Jae-yoon, who we thought was the best resource among free agent pitchers, we strengthened the bullpen, which was the weakest part of the team this season.” He added, “With the addition of Kim Jae-yoon, the anxiety about the back door disappears and ultimately improves the team’s performance.” “I am confident that it will produce positive results,” he said.
Kim Jae-yoon said, “They recruited a pitcher in his mid-30s under good conditions. Training hard and producing good results is the way to repay Samsung.” He added, “When the four-year contract ended, Samsung said, ‘It was a good job to recruit Kim Jae-yoon. “I will do my best so that you can look back and say, ‘It was a choice,’” he promised.