Lefty Kim Gwang-hyun (35), the first starter of last year’s champion SSG Landers and the national team ace, pledged to do well in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) to be held in March.

Kim Gwang-hyun, who wore the Taegeuk mark for the 6th time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, leads the juniors as the best pitching team along with Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers) in this national team. 스포츠토토

Kim Gwang-hyun, who celebrated his 16th year as a pro this year, is still active in good shape.

Last year, after returning from two years in the United States, he recorded 13 wins, 3 losses, 153 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.13 in 28 games. He performed well enough to maintain an earned run average of 1 until right before the last game of the season, although he did not become the title holder.

Although he has become an old man in his mid-30s, he is Kim Gwang-hyun, who has enough qualifications to be selected for the national team. However, there are also voices saying, “Are you still Kim Kwang-hyun?”

Rather than demeaning Kim Gwang-hyun himself, the word has the meaning of pointing out the reality of Korean baseball that there is still no pitcher who can surpass him in the national team. Still, Kim Gwang-hyun, the person involved, confessed that he felt sad about these expressions.

On the 11th (local time), Kim Gwang-hyun, who met with reporters at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, USA, a training ground for SSG, said, “Competing with my juniors, I feel proud that I still have a competitive edge. I feel proud in my own way. take,” he said.

However, “I’m actually a little sad when I hear that ‘Kim Gwang-hyun is still the ace of the national team’ or ‘the national team is still in place,'” he said. “I was always proud of the Taegeuk mark. I will work hard,” he said.

Previously, national team coach Lee Kang-cheol expressed his intention to use Kim Gwang-hyeon as a midfielder. It is because of the desire that an experienced veteran should block the opponent’s batting line in a clutch situation in the middle of the game. Kim Gwang-hyun, who has only played as a starter except for a brief experience on the American stage, must quickly adapt to his new position.

Kim Gwang-hyun said, “I think it will be difficult to go out in the middle because most of them only run as a starter. Obviously, the middle part is more burdensome than the starter.” said.

At the time of the Beijing Olympics, Kim Gwang-hyeon, who belonged to the youngest level and looked up to senior players such as Lee Seung-yeop, Kim Dong-ju, Jin Gap-yong, and Park Jin-man, rose to the top rank of the national team. He is more than 10 years older than rising players such as Lee Eui-ri (KIA), So-Jun Sohn (KT Wiz), Kim Yun-shik (LG Twins), Kwak Bin, and Jung Cheol-won (Doosan Bears).

Kim Gwang-hyun said, “I don’t know how to get along with the MZ generation. I’m thinking about whether I should volunteer to become a kkondae or live with MZ.” I will give it,” he said.

“It is such an honor to participate in the game wearing the Taegeuk mark,” he said. “Not only me, but all players should know this well.” believe,” he said.