Professional baseball player Bom Kim (21) plays for the LG Twins. When will he be able to play in a game again?
After joining LG under the bright spotlight as a 'genius batter', Bom Kim's standing has changed drastically in just a year.
Bom Kim has no first-team records this season. He has not been registered even for a single day on the first-team roster. He participated in 12 games in the Futures League, recording a batting average of .214 (42 at-bats, 9 hits), 2 home runs, and 5 RBIs.
The last game in the Futures League against the SSG Landers was on Apr. 9. He has not played in the second-team games for over 3 months.
Bom Kim is currently away from the team for a while. According to LG officials, he has gone to Busan, where his family home is located. He is managing his weight and addressing psychological stability. He is doing personal training, including training at his alma mater, Gyeongnam High School. Bom Kim applied to the Army to resolve his military service but was unsuccessful.
Bom Kim was drafted in the first round by LG in the 2023 rookie draft. He was a promising slugger who won the 'Lee Man-soo Home Run Award' in his senior year of high school. Director General Chah Myung-seok praised him at the draft venue, saying, "The proper noun Bom Kim will become a synonym for Korean baseball."
In his debut year, 2023, Bom Kim showcased his power in the Futures League and won the MVP award in the Futures All-Star Game, hitting home runs. In the 2023 season, he recorded 3 hits in 27 at-bats (.111 batting average), 1 home run, and 4 RBIs across 10 games in the first team. Towards the end of the season, he caught the attention of manager Youm Kyoung-youb and was suddenly included in the Korean Series roster.
In 2024, he was given the opportunity to be a backup catcher, recording a batting average of .298 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs in 32 games during April and May. He demonstrated clutch ability in key situations, earning recognition for his outstanding batting talent. However, he struggled in the second half of the season with a batting average in the .100s, spending more time in the second team than the first.
Before this season, Bom Kim was unable to join the first-team spring camp due to personal circumstances, completely falling behind in the competition for backup catcher. His hitting performance in the Futures League also declined, diminishing his strengths. He wanted to resolve his military service quickly, but due to his failure to join the Army, he missed opportunities. Regrettable time continues to pass.
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