Infielder Kim Sang-soo (32), who transferred to professional baseball kt wiz, vigorously pressed the ‘reset button’.안전놀이터
On the 24th (Korean time), at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, where the team’s spring camp was held, Kim Sang-soo said, “Everything is new” and made up his mind for the new season.
Kim Sang-soo, who met with the reporters after the team training, said, “It’s the first time I’ve stepped on American soil, including travel, since my professional debut.”
Kim Sang-soo was a franchise star for the Samsung Lions.
He graduated from elementary school, middle school, and high school in Daegu, the hometown of Samsung, and wore a Samsung uniform through the 2009 rookie draft.
He received enough support to play in 97 games from 2009, the first year of his debut. The following year, he established himself as the starting shortstop.
Kim Sang-soo, who spent 14 seasons at Samsung, signed a contract with kt, which suffered from infield resource shortages, after becoming a free agent (FA) last winter.
It was a new challenge for Kim Sang-soo, a native of Daegu.
He said, “I didn’t really feel that I had transferred, but training in the United States gives me a new feeling.”
Kim Sang-soo went on to say that he is preparing for the new season with a new mindset.
He said, “I know that kt has high expectations,” and “I am focusing on batting and defense training with the thought that I have to fill the void left by (enlisted) Shim Woo-jun without any problems.”
Kim Sang-soo did not forget to thank Samsung fans.
He said, “You’ve supported me a lot, and I’m sorry to have transferred,” he said.
At Kino Sports Complex, the kt spring camp training ground, there are many familiar faces who ate rice together.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team, which uses this place as a training ground, has Samsung right-hander Tae-in Won, a close friend of his junior.
In addition, Jin Gap-yong (KIA Tigers) battery coach, Jung Hyun-wook (Samsung) pitching coach, and Bae Young-soo (Lotte Giants) bullpen coach, who played together at Samsung, will be active.
Kim Sang-soo said, “I am talking a lot with (Won) Tae-in.” .
On this day, Kim Sang-soo started as the second batter shortstop in a practice match with the 2023 WBC national team and played an active role with 1 hit in 3 at-bats.
His hit came with two outs in the third inning. He hit a clean double in left center against Young-pyo Ko of the same team, who was the starting resource for the national team.
This day’s stage was Kim Sang-soo’s first game in kt uniform.