Doosan backup outfielder Kim Tae-geun filled in perfectly for Jung Soo-bin, who was sidelined with a thigh injury. Despite facing the KBO’s top ace Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG),메이저사이트 the Bears responded aggressively to take a one-run lead in the first inning.
The Doosan Bears swept the SSG Landers 10-1 in the ninth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League on April 25 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. With the result, the Bears swept their three-game series and extended their winning streak to four games, improving to 54 wins, one loss and 51 draws on the season.
Kim Tae-geun was the star of the show. He started in right field and went 2-for-5 with a home run, one RBI, and one run scored to lead the team to victory. Jung Soo-bin, the “5.6 billion outfielder,” took the leadoff spot for the first time in his career while resting from a thigh injury, and did a great job as a substitute.
“I want to praise Kim Tae-geun and Ahn Seung-han, who started the game like no other,” Lee said after the game. “Both of them did a tremendous job in the offense beyond expectations,” he applauded.
Kim Tae-geun opened the scoring in the first inning with a double off Kim Kwang-hyun before scoring on a Jose Rojas single. Then, in the top of the third inning, with runners on first and third after a walk and a stolen base, he again faced Kim Kwang-hyun and hit a single to left field. After failing to shut down Kim Tae-geun, Kim Kwang-hyun took the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings.
Doosan’s Kim Tae-geun / OSEN DB
After the game, Kim Tae-geun said, “I was very excited when I realized I was going to be the leadoff man for the first time. I had a lot of pressure to do well right before the game, but (Cho) Doo-hyung advised me to do the same, relaxed and confident, so I was able to relax.”
Behind the ace Kim Kwang-hyun’s strategy was a microscopic analysis of the power analysis part. “During the pre-game power analysis meeting, I heard that the opposing starting pitcher (Kim Kwang-hyun) had a lot of fastballs, so I took my aim. It led to a good result and relieved my pressure. I am very grateful to the power analysis team.”
Kim Tae-geun also made his presence felt on defense. In the seventh inning, when the score was 7-0, he caught Han Yoo-seom’s hit and threw a precise throw to home plate to catch Kim Kang-min at second base.
“I was playing backward defense, and when I looked at the scoreboard, (Kwak) Binyi had a no-hitter. I had the pace to get a no-hitter, so I was just thinking that if a strong hit came, I would try to catch the runner at home and protect Binyi’s no-hitter. It was not me, but the bodhisattva made by (Ahn) Seung-han, who caught the ball well,” he said in a humble manner.
Kim Tae-geun, Doosan / OSEN DB
Kim Tae-geun was selected by Doosan with the 49th pick in the fifth round of the 2019 KBO Draft out of Bae Myung-go-Konkuk University. After a long period of obscurity, he was about to see the light of day in 2022 when he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that landed him on the operating table. After enduring a long rehabilitation, Kim has contributed to the team this season, batting 2-for-8 with six runs and three RBIs in 17 games.
“It was hard during the long rehabilitation period, but I feel like I’ve been getting a little bit of a break lately. I’m grateful to the training staff and coaching staff who worked hard with me in Icheon.”