The main third baseman, known as a valuable free agent, is recovering from an injury, but the absence is not significantly felt. The value of 'Iron Man' Hwang Jae-kyun (38), who accepted the harsh reality of being a backup and shouted team first, is being re-evaluated.

On the 30th of last month, veteran infielder Hwang Jae-kyun of the professional baseball team KT Wiz started as the second baseman in the season's 5th game against the Doosan Bears, held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, leading the team to an 8-3 victory with 3 hits in 5 at-bats, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Facing left-handed starter Colabine, Hwang Jae-kyun took on the crucial 2nd position for the first time this season. He met the captain's trust right from his first at-bat. He appeared with no outs on the first base in the first inning and hit a single to right field, resuming his hitting streak after 2 games since the match against Hanwha Eagles on the 27th. After moving to second base on An Hyun-min's single to left field, Hwang scored on Mel Rojas Jr.'s 2-RBI single.

Hwang Jae-kyun took a breath after a strikeout in the 3rd inning and a groundout to shortstop in the 5th inning, then he met the changed pitcher Choi Ji-gang in the 7th inning with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd base, hitting a go-ahead single to right field for 1 RBI. Taking advantage of the rival's relay play, he reached second base and moved to third on An Hyun-min's groundout to third base, while Rojas hit a decisive 2-run homer, successfully scoring again.

Hwang Jae-kyun did not stop there; in the 9th inning, leading 8-3 with 1 out and a runner on 1st base, he hit a single to right against Kim Min-kyu, completing his 3rd hit. This marked his first game with 3 hits in 232 days since the match against NC Dinos in Suwon on Sept. 10 last year.

Manager Lee Kang-chul noted, “We were pressured, but Hwang Jae-kyun's timely hit in the 7th and Rojas' home run solidified our victory. Hwang fulfilled his role as a second hitter very well as a veteran,” smiling with satisfaction.

After the game, Hwang Jae-kyun said, “I’ve continued to feel good lately, but the well-hit balls went straight to the fielders without making it to base. Today, good hits started right from the first at-bat, and I had balls that went well between the defenders, leading to 3 hits.”

Hwang Jae-kyun, who gave up the third baseman position he held for 7 years to Heo Kyung-min at the start of the season, returned to third base when Heo Kyung-min sustained a hamstring injury on the 28th of last month. Manager Lee Kang-chul expressed concern, stating, “Heo Kyung-min needs to be re-examined in two weeks. It seems he won’t be available for about a month. Blood has pooled in the injured area, which will take about two weeks to drain. For now, he needs to rest this week.”

Returning to the familiar third base, Hwang Jae-kyun explained, “I didn’t expect to be back at third base like this, but Heo Kyung-min called to say he would be out. I thought I would take on third base again and reflected on it a lot in advance, which led to today’s good results. I’ve played a lot at third base and feel confident in my defense no matter where I play.”

Hwang Jae-kyun joked, “Since I’ve been watching first base, I am now more accustomed to it. Unlike third base, at first base, you just need to catch the ball without touching it.”

When asked what he talked about with Heo Kyung-min, he said, “Heo Kyung-min seemed to think he would be out, so I asked why, and he said he hurt his hamstring. So, I told him, ‘Come back as soon as you can. I’ll hold on until then.’ I will work hard at third base while he’s away, and when he returns, I plan to work hard in another position.”

KT is undergoing rehabilitation processes for Heo Kyung-min along with Kim Sang-soo and Oh Yun-seok, both of whom are also injured. Consequently, young infielders like Kwon Dong-jin, Jang Jun-won, Cheon Seong-ho, Kang Min-seong, and Yoon Jun-hyuk are taking turns filling the gap left by their seniors. Hwang Jae-kyun must take on the role of captain in the infield alongside Moon Sang-cheol.

Hwang Jae-kyun remarked, “For the time being, I need to comfort and lead the kids. When Kim Sang-soo and Heo Kyung-min were around, players would just take care of things without me having to say much, but now I have to coach them more for each situation, so I’m intentionally talking more. I also joke around a lot to ease the tension of the young players,” he said with a smile.

KT, with Hwang Jae-kyun, Jang Seong-woo, Rojas, and Moon Sang-cheol among the veterans, is successfully navigating the season with a record of 16 wins, 1 draw, and 14 losses while dealing with injuries to key players. They have completely shaken off the label of slow starters and established themselves as a top 5 team alongside strong competitors like LG, Samsung, Hanwha, and Lotte from the beginning.

Hwang Jae-kyun stated, “The pitchers are doing so well that we are making progress from the early stages.” He added, “Once summer comes, the fielders will raise their performance from what it is now. The team atmosphere is always good, and we will climb even higher than we are now.”

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