As the first step toward winning the new season, the overseas training plan was transformed. Kiwoom Heroes sharpened their swords.
Kiwoom Heroes tried something at spring camp for the first time this year. Instead of dividing the players into 1st and 2nd teams, the camp was conducted with a dual system by dividing the players into a ‘technical training group’ and a ‘practical competition group’.
While most of the 1st team players joined the Arizona camp in the US, the ‘technical training group’, some of the 1st team players headed to the Kaohsiung camp in Taiwan, where the ‘practical training group’ left with the 2nd team players. Why did Lee Yong-gyu, Jeon Byung-woo, Choi Won-tae, and Song Seong-moon join the Taiwanese camp?
Kiwoom Futures coach Seol Jong-jin, who is in charge of the Taiwanese camp, said, “The pace of these players was not good in the beginning. To win the championship, you need to finish the regular season in 1st or 2nd place, and if these players do well in the beginning, the team’s performance will go well in the beginning. Therefore, I wanted to bring them to the Taiwanese camp and have them play a lot of matches to improve their condition.”
That should also be the case. Lee Yong-gyu, Jeon Byung-woo, and Song Seong-moon’s batting averages from April to May last season were in the mid-to-late 10% to early 20% range. Song Seong-moon also has an excuse that he can’t laugh at, ‘Autumn Man’ because he feels hit when fall baseball begins.
Coach Seol said, “Since we came to the Taiwanese camp, where there are a lot of 2nd teams, the feelings of these players must not have been all right.” He emphasized that it is the ‘key’ of our team’s victory.” 스포츠토토
This year, the amount of spring camp practice was increased, but first-team players were not forced to train. However, it is rumored that players who played in the first team last year, such as Lee Yong-gyu and Jeon Byung-woo, are voluntarily participating in intense training together.
It is said that there was no internal opposition when the opinion of holding the camp under the ‘dualization’ system came out. Everyone in the club welcomed the new attempt with unison. Coach Seol said, “Whether the ‘Lee Won-hwa’ system was the right decision is a matter of judgment based on the team’s performance at the end of the season. However, if you have been split into 1st and 2nd teams to camp, but haven’t won the championship, isn’t it a good idea to change them?”
The Kiwoom team in Taiwan has played a total of 4 practice matches so far, recording 3 wins and 1 loss. Team 1 players are also improving their condition by participating in the game.