“I went in a different direction than I thought.”
LG outfielder Hong Chang-ki recorded a batting average of 0.286, 1 home run, 51 RBIs, 76 points, 13 stolen bases, a slugging percentage of 0.355 and an on-base percentage of 0.390 in 118 games in the 2022 season. In 144 games in the 2021 season, the batting average was 0.328, 4 homers, 52 RBIs, 103 points, 23 stolen bases, 0.408 slugging percentage, and 0.456 on-base percentage.
It was a season in which health, such as a side injury, hindered Hong Chang-ki. However, the 2021 season was so outstanding, but there is a somewhat ambiguous aspect to view the 2022 season as sluggish. For example, in the case of Hong Chang-ki’s main specialty, it was overwhelmingly 1st in 2021 and 5th in 2022.
However, Hong Chang-ki did not see this as a coincidence. He discovered a critical flaw and started working on a fix. On the 14th (hereafter Korean time), the LG Spring Camp Magazine said at the San Francisco Giants Sports Complex in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, “I went in a different direction than I thought. I invested a lot of time in fixing that part.”
Passive movement at the plate was a problem. And I was sorry for the injury. Hong Chang-ki said, “As the batting average fell, he hit passively and hit defensively. He came out to hit more aggressively. His on-base percentage was so high in 2021, but I don’t think he did terribly last year. He also had a high scoring position batting average.”
He said, “It was unfortunate that I couldn’t play much because I was injured. Then the numbers got a lot worse. The injury came just as he was getting better after his side was torn. All I could do was rest, but I forgot how good I was at that time.”
The problem Hong Chang-ki found was his hands. “Last year, I felt like I was ready to play in the top position and then hit. But last year, the ball flew in, but I was not ready, and when the ball came, I had a strong feeling of hitting it urgently, thinking that I had to hit it first.” 먹튀검증
He added, “I was not prepared. When it was bad, my wrist covered it too quickly, so I got a lot of grounders from second base. Now I practice with the feeling of sending it forward. The director says you can do it comfortably. Still, I want to get results quickly.”
This year, Hong Chang-ki is no longer able to play as a right fielder. This is because foreign hitter Austin Dean is a right fielder. Park Hae-min is a built-in center fielder, and Hong Chang-ki plans to alternate left fielder and designated hitter with Kim Hyun-soo. Seong-Joo Moon, the starting lineup backup, is also available as a starter. The reality of the national outfield team. Even if Hong Chang-ki is healthy, he may not be guaranteed a full-time job.
Hong Chang-ki said, “I always think the outfield is competitive. he doesn’t feel bad That’s a good direction. I played left field defense a bit when I was young. He has seen several positions in the pros as well, so there won’t be such a big inconvenience. He doesn’t get out just because he can get out. It is right to follow the director’s idea.”