The return of Kiwoom Heroes veteran catcher Lee Ji-young (37) is getting closer and closer.
Lee was removed from the first-team roster on March 13 due to a sore throat. It was the first time Lee was removed from the first-team roster this season. At the time, Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki said, “She was in and out of the game because of it (throat bile). She works harder than anyone else to take care of her body,” he said.
Lee Ji-young is the mental support of the Kiwoom players. Not only is she a stable pitcher, but she also has excellent leadership skills. Before being sent down to the second team, she played in 81 games, batting .249 with 54 hits, 8 RBIs, and 23 runs scored. She was a great addition to the team outside of her stats.
Lee Ji-young started the game against the Hanwha Future Team at Goyang Stadium on May 25 as the No. 5 hitter and catcher. Playing full time, Lee went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. It had been nearly two years since Lee started a game for the Futures since August 7, 2021, against the NC.
On the 27th, she batted third and designated hitter instead of wearing a catcher’s mask. Her first at-bat was a grounder to shortstop, but she singled to center field in the third inning. After a grounder to third in the fourth, he followed with a single to right in the sixth, a single to center in the seventh, and a single to left in the ninth. He finished the day 4-for-6 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. He had the most hits of any player on either team, and his variety of pitches was impressive.
Currently, the Kiwoom catching staff is led by two young catchers, Kim Dong-heon and Kim Xiang. Kim Xiang, who has been getting more playing time lately, made his presence felt in the three-game weekend series against Samsung with his first career multi-hit game and a 6-for-11 performance. Kim Dong-heon, who has been part of the Kiwoom catching staff alongside Lee Ji-young since the start of the season, is also gaining experience and making his debut. On September 1, teams will be able to add five more players to their roster. Three different players can give Kiwoom a boost.
Currently, Kiwoom is at the bottom of the league with 47 wins, 69 losses, and 3 draws. With 25 games left in the season, the team needs to go all out to avoid the bottom of the league.
Lee Jung-hoo is out, and Lee Yong-kyu is also out of the first team roster. They need a veteran presence in the batting order. Can Lee Ji-young come back and give the team a big boost?안전놀이터
Meanwhile, on the 27th, Goyang won 15-11 against the Hanwha Jeonseo Kiwoom Future Team. They scored seven runs in the ninth inning to pull off the upset. With the bases loaded in the ninth, Kim Gun-hee hit a grand slam to end the game.