Was Na Seong-beom’s gap this big?
The KIA Tigers proudly ranked first in offensive power in the 2022 season. He ranked first in team batting average (.279) and tied for first in team scoring (720 points). He also ranked first in on-base percentage (.349) and slugging percentage (.398). In the 2021 season, he jumped to the strongest batting line with the lowest level of attack power.
The recruitment of 15 billion hitter Na Seong-beom as a free agent and the trade reinforcement of catcher Park Dong-won were significant. A new foreigner, Socrates Brito, shone, and mid-level players such as Hwang Dae-in, Park Chan-ho, Ryu Ji-hyuk, and Lee Chang-jin made great strides. Even though Choi Hyeong-woo’s destructive power fell, thanks to their performance, they were able to rise to the top in attack power. He was also the driving force behind the 5-strong pull-up.
Within a year, KIA plummeted to the lowest level. From the beginning of the opening season, he has suffered from a severe lack of scoring ability. The team ranking also fell to the bottom with 3 wins and 8 losses in 11 games. Team batting average (.248), team runs scored (30), on-base percentage (.310), and slugging percentage 메이저사이트(.298) are the lowest. Among the chaps he caught, 13 double hits are the most, ranking first. His batting average in scoring position is also the lowest, with a 107 pun 9 ri.
The fundamental reason is the absence of Na Seong-beom, who posted a batting average of 3.2, 21 home runs, and 98 RBIs last year. He disappeared from the demonstration game due to a calf injury. Last year, he created a synergistic effect with Socrates, Hwang Dae-in, and Choi Hyung-woo in the center line. This year, with the absence of Na Seong-beom, the destructive power of the center has significantly decreased.
The gap between Park Dong-won’s 17 homers and 53 RBIs, which played the role of number 4 in the bottom line, was large. Since the opening of this year, two catchers, Han Seung-taek and Joo Hyo-sang, have only produced 3 hits in 38 at-bats. I didn’t expect hits from the two catchers, but Boo-jin’s goal is too deep. As the batting order in which the home run was supposed to hit just passed by, the pulse of the offense is cut off.
Here, Socrates’ sluggishness also acts as a burden. Based on last year’s experience, we hoped to show more destructive power this year, but we are still warming up. .279, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, .670 OPS. Shortstop Park Chan-ho, who claimed to increase his offensive power, recorded 4 double hits with a mere 10.9.
Veteran Choi Hyung-woo also expected a 30% batting average in the second half of last year, but has yet to show his strength. Hwang Dae-in is still unable to act as a solver. Ryu Ji-hyeok (.344) is the only 300 hitter in the lineup. ‘Little Lee Jong-beom’ Kim Do-yeong, who had high expectations as a chance maker, predicted a lack of scoring ability as he suffered a fractured foot in the opening two games.
There is a shortage of lead-off teams and troubleshooters. At present, there is no suitable reinforcement power. There is a trade, but you have to endure the power outflow of the mound. If Na Seong-beom and managing director Choi Won-joon return, it will be a breath of fresh air, but there are still many games until June. In the end, it is a situation where the current players have no choice but to plant.