Where has the championship outfield gone?

The outfield of the KIA Tigers is in disarray. Among the roster for the 2024 Korean Series, there were six outfielders: Choi Hyung-woo, Na Sung-bum, Choi Won-jun, Socrates, Park Jeong-woo, and Lee Chang-jin. Except for Choi Hyung-woo, all have fallen due to injuries and poor performance. Essentially, there are no regulars. This has contributed to the team falling to the lower ranks. The 42-year-old Choi Hyung-woo is now set to play as a regular outfielder.

KIA did not re-sign outfielder Socrates Brito, who led the team to victory. Instead, they acquired first baseman Patrick Wisdom, who boasts 88 home runs in Major League Baseball. Socrates was the starting center fielder. Manager Lee Beom-ho has activated a plan to return Lee Woo-sung to the outfield and assign Choi Won-jun to the center field position.

Left fielder Lee Woo-sung, center fielder Choi Won-jun, and right fielder Na Sung-bum were the starters. The backup squad was also solid. The fact that Park Jeong-woo, a member of last year's Korean Series, has become a first-team player added to the depth. Lee Chang-jin, known for his high on-base percentage, and Kim Ho-ryeong, with excellent defensive skills, were also available as backups. Rookie Park Jae-hyun, who has shown off his defensive skills with his speed, has emerged as a new option for the outfield.

Signs of trouble appeared from spring camp. Lee Chang-jin returned home early due to a hamstring injury. He relapsed during the final stages of rehabilitation and is currently out for the long term. He still has not participated in any Futures games. Na Sung-bum, who made the opening day roster after three years, has missed time due to a left calf muscle injury just a month into the season. It is uncertain when he will return.

Choi Won-jun, who is about to acquire free agent status, is suffering from a batting slump with a .195 average and has made critical errors in defense, resulting in his second demotion to the secondary team. After finishing a stint at first base and returning to the outfield, Lee Woo-sung has played the most games but is experiencing a prolonged slump. As of the 25th, he is hitting only .241 and is also underperforming defensively.

Park Jae-hyun made the opening day roster but fell into a batting slump due to a lack of playing opportunities. He occasionally played as a defensive substitute or pinch runner but ultimately was sent down to the secondary team. He received a brief call-up but was notified of his return to the secondary team just two days later. Eventually, due to injuries and poor performance from the regulars, a new outfield configuration needs to be established.

On April 12th, Oh Seon-woo, who was called up from the secondary team, secured a starting position with his strong batting and stable defense. It was a new discovery and a harvest. However, the remaining outfielders are struggling with batting, leading to changes in the lineup every game. Kim Ho-ryeong has shown stability in defense but is lacking in batting support. Kim Seok-hwan was called up from the secondary team to fill the outfield roster but has yet to display impressive hitting.

Moreover, on the 25th during a run, Park Jeong-woo suffered a left hamstring injury. A precise diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination at the hospital, but the situation is concerning. He also held significant value as a pinch runner. As of the 25th, the outfield roster consists of Oh Seon-woo, Lee Woo-sung, Kim Seok-hwan, Park Jeong-woo, and Choi Hyung-woo.

If Park Jeong-woo is out, Park Jae-hyun will need to be called up again. Choi Hyung-woo has been more of a designated hitter than an outfielder. He has occasionally played left field once or twice due to team needs. Now, it is possible that the 42-year-old Choi Hyung-woo, showcasing an OPS of 1.039, will have more opportunities to play as an outfielder. Currently, there are no alternatives other than hoping for Choi Won-jun and Lee Woo-sung to regain their batting form.

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