Who is Ahn Hyun-min, who made Kim Taek-yeon, the Rookie of the Year in professional baseball, cry?
Ahn Hyun-min (22), a rising outfielder for the KT Wiz, started as the sixth right fielder in the sixth game of the season against the Doosan Bears on July 1 at the Seoul Jamsil Stadium, causing a major incident in the top of the 9th inning.
Ahn Hyun-min stepped to the plate in the top of the 9th inning with one out and one runner on first base, trailing 1-3. The opponent was Kim Taek-yeon, a top professional baseball closer who won the Rookie of the Year last year and is having his first full-time closing season this year. Although he faced a count of 0 balls and 2 strikes without any trouble, Ahn Hyun-min did not back down easily. After working the count full over seven pitches, he fouled off the 8th and 9th pitches, then connected on the 10th pitch, a 150 km/h high fastball, resulting in a dramatic two-run homer that tied the game.
Ahn Hyun-min's swing was amazing. He connected with a high fastball to hit a massive home run with a bat speed of 171.4 km/h, a distance of 129 meters, and an angle of 27 degrees according to TrackMan data. Ahn Hyun-min planted a hope in the deepest part of the stadium called the mecca of Korean baseball, Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
Ahn Hyun-min, who hit his first career home run against the Lotte Giants on June 19 last year, reported his second home run 316 days later. He had also gained attention for hitting a 130-meter home run against Lotte.
Ahn Hyun-min is a promising catcher who graduated from Masan High School and joined KT in the 2022 Rookie Draft as the 38th pick in the 4th round. During his amateur days, he was known as a base-stealing catcher, showcasing excellent speed, and transitioned to being an outfielder after joining the professional league to maximize his batting.
Ahn Hyun-min enlisted in the military as an active-duty soldier in the fall of 2022 and was stationed in the 21st Division located in Yanggu, Gangwon Province. His first assignment was as a GP guard, but due to a herniated disc, he served in a mess attendant role. Ahn Hyun-min focused on building his physique in the military and returned as a 100 kg muscle man.
Ahn Hyun-min made his emotional debut in the first team against Doosan on May 30 last year and stood out with a batting average of .294, including his first home run during June. However, an unexpected injury clipped his wings.
On June 23, Ahn Hyun-min attempted to steal second base in the second game of a doubleheader against the LG Twins but tore the lateral ligament in his right hand while touching second base without wearing a glove, leading to surgery. After over two months of rehabilitation, he returned in September but was unfortunately classified as outside the roster, concluding his debut season.
Having risen again, Ahn Hyun-min showcased his explosiveness this season in 19 games in the Futures League, boasting a batting average of .426, with 5 home runs and 18 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of .535. He ranked second in batting and third in slugging percentage in the Futures League. Thanks to this, he seized his first starting opportunity in the first team on the 30th of last month, recorded his first hit, and managed to hit a dramatic home run that saved the team from a loss the next day.
A new generation power hitter who will lead KT in the next 10 years has emerged.
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