Ham Deok-ju signed a four-year FA contract with LG on the 24th of last month for a total of 3.8 billion won (down payment of 600 million won, annual salary of 1.4 billion won, and incentive of 1.8 billion won).
Ham Deok-ju, who joined the Doosan Bears in 2013 and made his professional debut, made his first FA contract in 10 years.
In fact, it took constant patience for Ham Deok-ju to perform in front of LG fans. It took about two years.
LG made a trade with the Doosan Bears just before the opening of the 2021 regular season. It sent right-handed big guns Yang Seok-hwan and left-handed prospect Nam Ho, and brought left-handed bullpen agent Ham Deok-ju and right-handed prospect Chae Ji-sun.
However, Ham only posted an earned run average of 4.29 with one win, two losses and one hold in 21 innings in 16 games due to injury, poor performance and surgery. In the 2022 season, he played only 13 games and 12 ⅔ innings, and finished with an earned run average of 2.13. As a result, LG fans' disappointment grew.
Yang Seok-hwan, who was sent to the opposite side of the team, was even more comparable because he flew fast. With the Doosan Bears, Yang had a batting average of 0.273 with 28 homers and 96 RBIs in 133 games in the 2021 season. Although his batting average fell to 0.244 in the 2022 season, he showed robust performance in slugging capability by posting 20 homers for two consecutive years.
Ham Deok-ju has finally made a comeback in the 2023 season. He pitched perfectly with four wins and four no losses and four saves and 16 holds with an ERA of 1.62 in 55 ⅔ in 57 games, becoming the core of his team's bullpen. That has reemerged from Doosan's performance. He also showed strong performance in big games. He contributed to his team's overall win in the Korean Series by posting one win and an unbeaten ERA in three ⅓ in four games.
"When I went to the first spring camp at LG ahead of the 2022 season, I had surgery and I tried too hard to show good pitching, which resulted in bad results in the regular season," Ham said. "I pulled up my body slowly last year to the point where I felt anxious, and this worked. I am trying to build up my body just in time for the opening of the season this year. I am only doing rehabilitation and weight training without touching the ball yet."
After the Korean Series ended, Ham Deok-ju had a late wedding ceremony. Then, she went to Hawaii for her honeymoon. As soon as she returned from her honeymoon, she signed an FA contract.
"I thought staying at LG was the best scenario, but LG offered me the best conditions," Ham said with a smile. "We didn't talk about the contract at all during our honeymoon. I signed the contract almost immediately after returning from Hawaii."
Among Ham Deok-ju's contracts, the most eye-catching part is incentives. Of the total 3.8 billion won, 1.8 billion won is an incentive.
To this, Ham Deok-ju said, "This is an option that I can get even if I don't do as much as I did last year. As long as I am healthy, it is a condition that I can achieve everything," adding, "Incentives will motivate me. I think it will motivate me to get rid of the injury risk because I have always had it. This is how I can prepare for a season without being complacent about signing an FA contract. I signed the contract with a good heart."
Meanwhile, LG's closing position without Ko Woo-suk went to Yoo Young-chan. Ham Deok-ju has experience in finishing when he was in Doosan. Therefore, there is nothing strange about Ham Deok-ju taking the closing position.
Ham Deok-ju said, "I don't have any regrets. It's up to the director to decide. I would have told the director that I was disappointed if he thought the change would happen (laughs). I think I will get a good chance if I keep doing what I want."
Both LG and Ham Deok-ju have two consecutive goals this year. "My goal is to win this year's championship, so I will prepare the same way I prepared last year," Ham said.