Doosan Bears finished the 2023 season. The team is in the process of reorganizing. 토토사이트 The spotlight was focused on Jang Won-jun’s retirement announcement, but another player decided to take off his uniform. It’s pitcher Kim Ji-yong.
Rather than Doosan, he left a strong impression on LG Twins fans. He lived a baseball life full of ups and downs. You can even make it into a movie.
He was a beast in high school. I transferred to Chung-Ang High School because there was no place at Deoksu High School. I never dreamed of a professional nomination. When I was wondering if I should quit baseball, I was called by the new team Gangneung Yeongdong University. And he took the adventure of turning a pitcher.
The pitcher was more fit. My graduation year was good. He was selected by LG in the ninth round of the second round of the 2010 draft. Recalling the time, Kim Ji-yong said, I didn’t even think of being a professional when I was an amateur. I didn’t have the skills. I just couldn’t let go of the string because I liked baseball. However, Yeongdong University has made unexpected progress. That’s how I joined LG. I thought it was a dream,” he said.
But there’s also a moment of joy. My shoulder hurt in year two. Kim Ji-yong said, I was a rookie and young. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t tell you I was sick, I couldn’t get treatment. Time has passed since I was in pain alone, he said. Thus, he carried out military service obligations as a public service worker.
This was the first turning point of Kim Ji-yong’s baseball life. Kim Ji-yong said, Coach Choi Won-ho current Hanwha coach, who was coached by LG’s second division, set up a pitching research center. Coach Lee Jong-yeol current general manager of Samsung also helped a lot. At that time, we had a seminar and studied baseball together after work. As I rested and improved my shoulders and renewed my pitching mechanism, my ball speed increased significantly, he explained. It was in 2014 that Kim Ji-yong really changed his baseball life.
After completing his mandatory military service in 2013, he was registered again as a reported player in 2014 and was spending time in the second division. The Incheon Asian Games were held in September, and the national team, composed of the best members, needed a practice opponent. LG was a partner. At that time, LG called in pitchers thrown in the second division and assigned the role of batting ball pitchers.
Yang Sang-moon current SPOTV commentator who was a master pitcher recognized Kim Ji-yong’s ability at a glance. Sliders were art. Spring camp for the 2015 season. Kim Ji-yong’s place has been established right now. And I had a golden age of life for four years. He clearly imprinted his name as LG’s must-win group. In the 2016 season, he was hired in the postseason and spent his dreamlike days.
Kim Ji-yong said, Coach Yang is a benefactor to me. I think I played baseball for another 10 years because of the coach, he said. Some say that Kim Ji-yong was injured by throwing too much when Yang was there. However, Kim Ji-yong said, The director is always sorry for me. They’re asking if I made them throw too much. But I’m only grateful to the director, he said.
Kim Ji-yong continued, “I threw less for a must-win group. My body didn’t follow me. Since he’s not big, he definitely gets injured quickly. That’s just unfortunate. I didn’t neglect my exercise either, he said. In 2018, he underwent elbow surgery. Pitchers who use sliders as their main weapons cannot avoid elbow injuries.
That’s how I spent three years. Kim Ji-yong said, When I was in the second division after surgery, my heart broke so much. I missed playing in the first team. Still, I thought about hope for three years. But there was no place for me in LG. The juniors came up scary. I wanted to be a first-team pitcher. I earnestly asked the club to release me. And Doosan offered me the offer to join, which is not enough. I was grateful to both LG and Doosan teams, he said.
However, he did not show much performance during his two years at Doosan. He’s aged, and it’s not easy to raise his ball power. Kim Ji-yong said, I really did my best. I wanted to help Doosan who accepted me somehow. But when it was good, the ball power didn’t come out, he explained.
Still, Doosan did not pass Kim Ji-yong’s efforts. He officially registered as a playing coach in the middle of this season. He saw the potential for development as a leader. The player is done now, but Doosan will sign him to a formal coaching contract. Although no position has been decided, Kim Ji-yong is already sweating at the site of the Icheon wrap-up camp.
Kim Ji-yong said, Rather than regretting quitting my career, I just feel sorry for Doosan. You held my hand when I was having a hard time, but I didn’t do anything for you. Still, since I started my leadership career at Doosan, I think I have a chance to make up for it. I want to pay back what I didn’t do as a player as a leader, he said.
I’ve experienced more than anyone else, he continued. There were times when I was good, when I was bad, and when I was sick. Based on these experiences, I think I can help my juniors a lot. Whether it’s the first team, the second team, or the rehabilitation team, there’s a lot to tell. I think that’s my weapon as a leader, he explained. Lastly, what kind of player does Kim Ji-yong want to be remembered by fans. He concluded the interview by saying, I hope you remember me as Kim Ji-yong, who has always been brave in crisis situations.