Can they rebound next year?

The Samsung Lions’ last championship was in 2014. From 2011 to 2014, he wrote a beautiful record of winning the regular league and Korean Series for 4 consecutive years that will remain in the history of the KBO. It opened the era of the Samsung Dynasty and spent a beautiful era. Even at that time, many baseball fans believed that Samsung’s dynasty would last a long time.

However, after winning the regular league in 2015 and finishing runner-up in the Korean Series, an unbelievable time came. As key players left the team or retired, the team’s power weakened a lot. Also, foreign players couldn’t enjoy it, leaving a lot of regret. From 2016 to 2022, they only made the postseason once, in 2021. During this period, the regular season rankings were 9th – 9th – 6th – 8th – 8th – 3rd – 7th.

Another defector came out of Samsung this year as well. It was Kim Sang-soo, who had been with him during the Samsung dynasty, and left for KT Wiz after obtaining FA status. Kim Sang-soo left for kt instead of Samsung on the condition of receiving up to 2.9 billion won over 4 years.

This leaves only two winners in 2014. They are Baek Jeong-hyun and Kim Heon-gon. Of course, there is Oh Seung-hwan, who won the championship from 2011 to 2013, but in 2014 he was playing in Japan.

Unfortunately, Baek Jung-hyun and Kim Heon-gon’s 2022 was a season they wanted to forget. It was Baek’s first season with a 4-year, 3.8 billion free agent contract. However, he had his worst season with 4 wins and 13 losses with a 5.27 ERA in 24 games. In particular, in the first half, he played 14 games and had a 10-loss average ERA of 6.63. He also hit 19 home runs.

Of course, you can’t just say that Baek Jung-hyun couldn’t throw. Even in the first half of the draw, if the support of the other line and bad luck did not overlap, the moment of winning could have come. Also in the second half, he complied with 4 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 3.33. However, he could not be considered to have achieved good results as a veteran pitcher who had to hold the center of the team.

It was the same with 스포츠토토 Kim Heon-gon. Kim Heon-gon was the season before acquiring FA. He also prepared for the season vigorously as a captain, perhaps because there was a lot of pressure. he couldn’t laugh In 80 games he played, he had a batting average of .192 with 18 hits, 1 home run and 20 RBI. He couldn’t laugh as he even had a dishonorable record of no hits in 43 consecutive at-bats.

In the end, he had no choice but to give up the captaincy, and as the season progressed, the number of times he was seen in the first team decreased. I haven’t had a chance to play since the SSG Landers game on August 24th. In the first half, his batting average was 0.208, exceeding 20%, but in the second half, he had only one hit at 0.045, less than 10%.

He forgot about this year’s slump. Now next year is important. Baek Jung-hyeon should hold the center of the pitching staff. David Buchanan and Albert Suarez remain. Also, if Won Tae-in, who has won 10 wins for two consecutive years, works hard from the front, Baek Jung-hyun must protect them from behind. That’s the veteran’s job. He also showed a comeback in the second half. It is necessary to continue the trend that has rebounded into 2023.

Kim Heon-gon’s attitude is also different. Kim Heon-gon obtained free agent status after the season, but he did not apply. It means that he chose to take a chance. He is very sorry for his own grades. Of course, next season, there is a high possibility that the outfield will be operated centering on Jose Pirella, Kim Hyun-jun, and Koo Ja-wook. However, if Kim Heon-gon, who can help in offense and defense, revives and creates synergy with them, director Park Jin-man has no choice but to smile.

In a way, in 2022, the word ‘sluggish’ always followed the names of the two players. This year, that sluggishness should be erased. Only then can honor be restored and the team can be saved. How will 2023 be for the two men who remember Samsung’s last win?