KBO held the second draft on the 22nd. It is a place where 10 KBO league clubs gather to reinforce their power. Of course, there was no expectation that it would end quietly.
This is because the prevailing expectation was that "all-time transfer" would take place as news spread that veteran players who had already signed FA contracts, such as Choi Joo-hwan (35) and Woo Kyu-min (37), were excluded from the 35-member protection list of their respective teams. In fact, Choi Joo-hwan was selected by Kiwoom as the first overall pick in the first round, and Woo Kyu-min also wore a KT uniform as the sixth overall pick in the first round.
But when I opened the lid, there was a really shocking transfer. That's also the player who was selected in the fourth round.
Hanwha named SSG outfielder Kim Kang-min in the fourth round. Kim Kang-min is a member of the golden generation born in 1982, with few active players left, and he is already in his 40s. But I didn't expect this nomination to be the decisive factor for SSG to replace the general manager.
Kim Kang-min is definitely a player who has passed his prime. This year, he played in 70 games in the regular season and hit a batting average.He had only 226 (31 hits in 137 times at bat) with two homers, seven RBIs and two steals. Next year, he will be 42 years old. Nevertheless, why did Hanwha exercise its right to nominate Kim Kang-min.
The transfer of a player in his 40s who is about to retire. It doesn't seem like anything, but it has produced a huge impact. This is because Kim Kang-min was different from a typical player in his 40s.
Kim Kang-min joined SK in 2001 and was a "one club man" who played for only one team until this year. He was one of the main players of the SK dynasty and was always with his team's five-time Korean Series victory. In addition, in Game 5 of the Korean Series against Kiwoom last year, he hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead SSG to an integrated victory and even won the Korean Series MVP. It was inevitable that the team's iconic player, especially a player who played for only one team for more than 20 years, would change his uniform in one morning.
And one more. Hanwha viewed Kim Kang-min as a player who would contribute to its full strength. It just means that he didn't look at it as an elderly player who was about to retire. Hanwha, which briefly glimmered after successfully advancing to the postseason in 2018, has since had difficulty forming the outfield. Back then, Yang Sung WooHanwha, which had outfielders composed of Lee Yong-kyu and Gerard Hoying, has since lost its competitiveness and had to be pointed out as an Achilles heel for a long time. We have tested numerous players so far, but it is still not enough to say that it is 100% complete. We needed a player who could add depth to the outfield. In Hanwha's eyes, of course, it could not pass the resource of Kim Kang-min.
Usually, players in their 40s will be less effective no matter how many superstars they are. There are few players who play as full-time main players, and even if they hit a hit as a pinch hitter, they have to use a pinch runner or a big player due to their lack of quickness and mobility. Efficient entry operation can be difficult. Most fielders tend to go down the path of retirement if their defense is not supported. Like Lee Dae-ho last year, a player who showed his best performance in a season that heralded his retirement is a very special case.
However, Kim Kang-min is still a player who can defend. It was also nicknamed "The Beast" because of its tremendous defensive ability. Of course, he is also past his prime and it is practically difficult to play as a full-time mainstay, but he is well worth using as a backup agent. Hanwha also would not have exercised its right to nominate Kim Kang-min if it had simply expected the role of a "mentor."
Hanwha said, "We judged that Kim Kang-min has the skills of a big fee and pinch hitter resource as well as strengthening the outfield depth." as the first reason for nominating Kim Kang-min. The next reason was that "I nominated it because I shared a lot of empathy with our young outfielders and thought I could help them grow."
Perhaps SSG viewed Kim Kang-min as a general player in his 40s. The complacent idea of "Do I really nominate a player in his 40s who is about to retire?" was the starting point of the wave. If SSG planned to retire Kim Kang-min, it should have tied the knot before the second draft.
In the end, SSG decided to replace the general manager by holding him responsible for this. Of course, the general manager did not change just because Kim Kang-min left. But it was clear that it was a decisive blow. The SSG club said on the 25th, "We will change general manager Kim Sung-yong to the head of the R&D center (former development team) by holding him responsible for the recent selection of coaches and coaches and controversies that occurred during the second draft." SSG plans to select candidates for the new general manager and start the selection process soon.
Now, Kim Kang-min is a Hanwha player. Kim Kang-min also decided to put the impact of the second draft behind him and extend his active career. Kim Kang-min visited the Hanwha team's office located in Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 24th and expressed his intention to extend his active duty. In response, Hanwha decided to include Kim Kang-min on the list of suspended players. I wonder if Kim Kang-min, who joined Hanwha after twists and turns, will be able to show his "power in his 40s" next year.
Kim Kang-min, who left SSG, said to SSG fans, "Dear fans. I was very happy playing baseball as a one-club man for 23 years. I'm sorry that I'm leaving only because I'm indebted. We will try to show our strength again in the new team by preserving the unconditional love and precious memories you sent us. Thank you so much for all this time," he said goodbye with a message. It is a message that makes SSG fans cry even now.