“I’m going to give Park Seok-min a chance first.”
Faith in veterans is firm. Actually, it is not a situation where there are many options, but I am sure that he knows his role better than anyone else even if he does not speak. This is a message of trust from the NC command tower to the eldest brother of the team, Park Seok-min (38).
NC coach Kang In-kwon met with reporters after the New Year’s party held at Changwon NC Park on the 16th and revealed the idea for the 2023 season. I’m still struggling, but I’ve made a rough plan. It is a judgment that he will make a decision after seeing the spring camp.
The idea of the infield was somewhat certain. NC created a vacancy at third base due to Park Jun-young (Doosan), who was sent as a compensation player for Park Se-hyuk’s free agent (free agent) recruitment, and Noh Jin-hyuk (Lotte), who transferred as a free agent. In a situation where there were not many options, coach Kang put the Park Seok-min card first.
Director Kang said, “If Park Seok-min builds his body as well as possible without injury, he is thinking of giving him a chance first.” He emphasized that he is a player who knows what to show because he has done so.” 안전놀이터
This is why Park Seok-min’s long hitting power is also a priority. In the NC, Yang Eui-ji (Doosan) and others were left out, leaving a gap in long hitting power. Park Seok-min recorded double-digit homers for 14 consecutive years from 2008 to 2021, except for the last season when he returned from disciplinary action, and is the league’s leading third baseman with a personal total of 268 homers. Coach Kang said, “I feel that the team’s long hitting power is lacking compared to last year. The reason why I think of Park Seok-min as a third baseman first is because players who can hit the slugging power are missing,” he said. “Park Seok-min’s performance at the beginning of the season is important. Park Seok-min needs to be more active, so the team’s slugging power will be stable,” he explained.
At the same time, there is a big concern about the outfield. In particular, he is making various plans for the left fielder. First of all, ‘Plan A’ was set up with ‘Captain’ Son Ah-seop as the left fielder. Son A-seop is a player who has played in the right field position for over 10 years. Left field experience is still lacking. He plans to decide by watching the movement in the camp.
Director Kang said, “The left fielder is a concern. Jason Martin has experience in center field. I think I will have to make a decision after going to spring camp and watching Martin’s movement in center field and Son Ah-seop’s left field,” he said.
On this day, neither Park Seok-min nor Son Ah-seop attended the New Year’s party. Park Seok-min is currently undergoing individual training in the Philippines, and Son Ah-seop is sweating in preparation for the spring camp in the United States, concentrating on individual training.
However, Park Gun-woo, who had to compete with Son Ah-seop in right field, said, “When I played for Doosan, I couldn’t be in center field, so when (Jeong) Subin came, I was pushed back and went to right field. Then (Son) Ah-seob hyung must have been pushed out by me and went to left field (laughs).” He will not go to left field,” he predicted the competition.