"ML 88 Home Runs" Uta Kuppo who entered KBO, but there is no long hit yet... Do we need more time
"ML 88 Home Runs" Uta Kuppo who entered KBO, but there is no long hit yet... Do we need more time
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He entered the KBO League amid a lot of interest, but has yet to produce a single slugger. This is the story of foreign hitter Patrick Wisdom (KIA Tigers).
Wisdom only had one hit from 10 times at bat with a batting average of 0.100, one run and two walks in the match against the Sajik Lotte Giants on Saturday and Sunday against the Changwon NC Dinos on Sunday and Sunday. At the second practice game for the spring camp in Okinawa, Japan, he had one hit, one run and one walk from four times at bat.
As far as exhibition games go, Wisdom only produced one single hit that he made at the match against NC Dinos on Sunday. He had no more than a two-base hit. The "Wisdom effect" that Kia wanted has yet to emerge.
KIA, which achieved the combined championship in the 2024 season, made changes in the composition of its foreign players in the process of preparing for the 2025 season. The team has decided not to renew the contract with foreign hitter Socrates Brito, who made significant contributions to the team during the 2022-2024 season. The team considered Socrates' poor performance in the early stages of the season every year.
What stood out the most was the number of home runs. Wizdom had 20 home runs for three consecutive years through 2021 (28), 2022 (25), and 2023 (23). Kia wanted a foreign hitter who could empower its batters, and pinned its hopes on Wizdom's slugging capability.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said in December last year, "Although renewing his contract with Socrates was the most stable option, other teams recruited a lot of left-handed pitchers and also recruited a lot of fast-balling players," adding, "Considering various factors, I think Socrates prepared (for the composition of foreign players) by considering how much performance Socrates will perform in the 2025 season or what the new foreign hitter will look like."
"Since we are a team with a high team batting average and many players with contact capabilities, it would be the best if Wisdom, who has long-shot power, hits well. Everyone seems to be worried about the falling ball because there are many swings and the strikeout rate is high, but we will know that only when we come (to the KBO League)," he said. "I think there are more positive factors that a player who hit 20 or more home runs three times (in a single season) in the Major League visited Korea in his early 30s."
However, Kia ended its spring camp without deciding on Wisdom's batting order. The head coach plans to conclude its plan to become the center hitter after watching Wisdom's game during the exhibition game.
Coach Lee said on the 5th, "I think we should decide the center batting line during the exhibition game. I'm going to see how much Wizdom adapts to Korean baseball during the exhibition game and see if it's better to go straight into No. 4 or a little later," and added, "I think (Kim) Do-young needs a more accurate player behind him, but if the first and second batters are in good condition, I think it's right to leave Do-young in No. 3 and go for a solid center batting line." 카지노
Not all foreign hitters who made great success stories in the KBO League played in exhibition games. It is too early to judge whether Wisdom is successful or not with just four games. Korea also needs time to adapt itself to KBO league rules including ABS (automatic pitching determination system) and pitch clock.
For now, Wisdom scored its first hit and run against Changwon NC on the 11th, the previous game, and made up for its disappointment with its first multi-base hit. With the opening of the regular season just 10 days away, it remains to be seen whether Wisdom can produce long balls in the remaining exhibition games.