Last year, Kim Gi-yeon, who joined Doosan Bears and made a success story in the second draft, was notified of his first assignment to the second team of the season despite not being injured. What could be the reason?
Doosan Bears acting manager Jo Seong-hwan, on the 23rd when there was no game, notified the second catcher Kim Gi-yeon of his assignment to the second team and called up rookie catcher Ryu Hyun-jun the next day.
Kim Gi-yeon's season record is a .240 batting average (25 hits in 104 at-bats) with 1 home run and 16 RBIs in 48 games. His batting average in the last 10 games was low at .154, but considering that he is the second catcher backing up Yang Eui-ji, his record was not enough to warrant a demotion to the second team. Kim Gi-yeon also recorded a 26.9% caught stealing rate while covering 225 innings on defense, which ranked 16th overall, and is shared 7th, higher than Yang Eui-ji's 20% (tied for 13th).
The acting manager raised a question mark about Kim Gi-yeon's ability to control the pitch. Jo Seong-hwan noted in a meeting with reporters on the 24th before the game against SSG Landers in Jamsil, "In fact, I was looking for a timing for Kim Gi-yeon to go down to the second team. This is my feeling, but last year, I saw the figure of catcher Kim Gi-yeon, while this year, when Yang Eui-ji's condition is bad, he is just being replaced. His color as a catcher has faded compared to last year."
He added, "I distinctly remember Kim Gi-yeon leading the team as a catcher last year. Of course, Kim Gi-yeon is a catcher who talks a lot with the battery coach and prepares a lot. His focus during games is substantial. However, from what I see, the recent appearance of Kim Gi-yeon was not that of catcher Kim Gi-yeon. So, I made the decision to assign him to the second team."
The only thing that the manager desires is for Kim Gi-yeon to regain his confidence in the Futures League and recover his ability to control the pitch. Jo Seong-hwan said, "I hope to see Kim Gi-yeon taking the initiative in games. I hope he plays many games in the Futures League, resets, and returns." He added, "Of course, Kim Gi-yeon's absence may be greatly felt. He has a significant presence as a catcher backing up Yang Eui-ji, but I hope to see Kim Gi-yeon's own color that is not just at that level."
Kim Gi-yeon, who graduated from Jinheung High School and was selected 34th in the 4th round of the secondary draft by LG Twins in 2016, spent 8 years fluctuating in the second team before wearing the rival Doosan uniform as the 4th pick in the first round of the secondary draft held before the 2023 season.
Having only a batting average of .140 and 3 RBIs in 42 games in the first team at LG, he established a career high last year with a .278 batting average, 5 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 31 runs in 95 games and was officially chosen as Yang Eui-ji's successor. He achieved his first 100 million won salary (110 million won) from a previous 40 million won, and has been serving as the second catcher for 93 days since joining the opening roster, but with this demotion, he will have time to regroup in Icheon.
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