I think I just swung instinctively, thinking, 'Oh, what the heck.'
NC Dinos infielder Kim Hwi-jip really struck a dagger into his former team.
On the 12th, Kim Hwi-jip started as the 9th third baseman in the away game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome, recording 1 hit, 2 RBIs, and 1 run in 5 at-bats. After grounding out in the 2nd and 3rd innings, Kim Hwi-jip bowed his head with back-to-back Samjin in the 6th and 8th innings. However, in a moment that needed a crucial hit, Kim Hwi-jip showed his true worth.
In the top of the 10th inning, tied 6-6, NC's lead-off batters Cheon Jae-hwan and Kim Han-byeol both struck out against the new pitcher Lee Gang-jun.
After two outs, Kim Hyung-jun reached base with a hit to right field. At bat was Kim Hwi-jip. With a ball count of 1B-0S against Lee Gang-jun, he attacked the second pitch, a two-seam fastball, and sent it into the left field stands. The distance was 130 meters. Thanks to Kim Hwi-jip's decisive two-run homer, NC defeated Kiwoom 8-6, capping off their midweek three-game series with a winning series.
After graduating from Shin Il High School, Kim Hwi-jip was selected in the 1st round of the 2nd pick by Kiwoom in 2021. Last year, he transferred to NC, which gave up its 13th round draft pick in the 2025 rookie draft to acquire Kim Hwi-jip.
Manager Lee Ho-jun emphasizes that the so-called 'three golds' need to perform well. They are catcher Kim Hyung-jun and infielders Kim Joo-won and Kim Hwi-jip. In particular, Kim Hwi-jip is expected to be a key player in Lee Ho-jun's baseball strategy.
Having played in 140 games last year, Kim Hwi-jip recorded a batting average of .258 (126 hits in 488 at-bats), 16 home runs, 73 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.747, which set his best performance since his pro debut, raising expectations for an even better showing. However, he struggled to showcase his ability. In this game, he triggered a momentum shift with a hit that was full of value.
After the game, Kim Hwi-jip said, 'This was a game we absolutely had to win, so I'm really happy we did. Especially, it felt great that my swing during practice translated into a home run in the game.' He added, 'I swung without looking at the ball. Even now, I can’t remember how I did it. I think I just swung instinctively, thinking, 'Oh, what the heck.'
Kim Hwi-jip also expressed his concerns, saying, 'Last year, I had a lot of long hits on high balls, but it’s not the same this year. If it's not a high ball against left-handed pitchers, the results don’t come out at all.'
That said, he can't just ignore high balls. Kim Hwi-jip emphasized, 'I am continuously looking for ways to hit well. I haven't been doing well recently, but I still want to train positively the next day. As an athlete, I must overcome difficult moments.'
Meanwhile, Manager Lee Ho-jun commended the team, saying, 'All players focused until the end with the determination to win the last away game and return home victorious.'
He also expressed his hopes, saying, 'After two outs in the 9th inning, (Park) Min-woo survived a tough at-bat with two strikes and created another opportunity for victory, and in the 10th, (Kim) Hwi-jip hit a refreshing home run. He must have had a frustrating time recently, so I hope this serves as a good turning point for him.'
In addition, he stated, 'I sincerely thank the fans who came to support us at the stadium, and I will prepare well to show good games at home.'
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