There is a player who can never rest, no matter how hard he runs and sweats. And he says he should be working harder. NC Dinos starting shortstop Kim Joo-won vows to keep sprinting without rest in the second half.
Kim Joo-won has become an irreplaceable starting shortstop for NC this year under Lee Ho-jun. Manager Lee Ho-jun said that even though he tried to give Kim Joo-won some rest, "it wasn't easy to actually pull him from the lineup." Although he tries to manage fatigue, it's difficult for the manager to readily take him out since he must present the best lineup. Kim Joo-won has become the player whose name is first written in the lineup and who never drops out.
He has a batting average of .259 (83 hits in 320 at-bats), 5 home runs, 29 RBIs, 56 runs, and 24 stolen bases, with an OPS of .718 across 85 games. He started in 84 games, except for one game. His defensive innings count for 700⅔, ranking 5th in the league and 3rd among infielders. His 24 stolen bases rank 3rd in the league.
As a shortstop who expends a lot of energy, he is positioned in the top batting order. Manager Lee Ho-jun believes that using Kim Joo-won as the second hitter makes the team stronger, and he pushed for "strong second hitter Kim Joo-won." Although there were ups and downs, he gradually adapted, and toward the end of the first half, he was positioned as the leadoff hitter. It seems that the leadoff position suits him. When he was the first hitter, he had a batting average of .291 (25 hits in 86 at-bats), 7 RBIs, and an OPS of .748.
He sweats and moves actively. In the game against Hanwha on the 2nd, he succeeded in stealing second base, but suffered a bruise on his elbow. He earned the badge for his 20th stolen base of the season. Additionally, he suffered a wound on his knee, causing his uniform to be soaked with blood. Kim Joo-won's blood and sweat dedication has become a hot topic.
On the 12th, during the All-Star Game held at Hanwha Life Eagles Park, Kim Joo-won reflected on that moment and explained, "I didn't get hurt as much as it looks. My knee did bleed, but it got smeared because of sweat, so it was expressed more excessively."
It is a season that is undoubtedly difficult. Nevertheless, he thinks more about self-reproach than about how hard it is. He said, "I finished the first half better than I expected. I was quite disappointed defensively. I need to reorganize during the rest period and prepare for the second half in a more perfect shape. I think it would be good to focus more on all plays."
He is trying to push himself to his limits. He emphasized, "As I go through the season, I think being tired is good. I can only feel tired when I do well. I need to do better and work harder."
Thanks to Kim Joo-won's blood, sweat, and dedication, NC has achieved a four-game winning streak at the end of the first half, reaching a record of 40 wins, 40 losses, and 5 ties for a .500 winning percentage. Kim Joo-won strongly stated, "I want to finish the second half with a higher ranking by concentrating more."
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