After the shock release notice, no team contacted me, considering 90% retirement, Kiwoom contacted me

After the shock release notice, no team contacted me, considering 90% retirement, Kiwoom contacted me

Blog Article

"I didn't get any calls. So I was looking for a team and at Kiwoom..."

Veteran infielder Oh Sun-jin continues his career as a "journey man" in the final years of his career. Since joining the Hanwha Eagles in 2008, he has been loved for his sound infield defense and energetic play. He seemed to establish himself as a franchise star, but he became a Samsung Lions player through a one-on-one trade with Lee during the 2021 season.토토사이트

During the 2022 season, he played 100 games for Samsung and boosted his value through all-weather backup. He became the first free agent in his career. He had luck, too. Ha Joo-seok, the main shortstop of his former team, Hanwha, was disciplined for drunk driving and needed to strengthen his capability, and he signed an impressive FA contract with the condition of up to 400 million won per year.

However, the team was nominated by the Lotte Giants in the second round of the draft ahead of the last season. There was some sadness that it was removed from the protected list, but there was also a sense of relief that any team that needed infielders would seek Oh Sun-jin.

However, under Kim Tae-hyung's leadership last season, Oh Sun-jin hardly got a chance, and in the end, he was notified of the worst and final scenario of veterans and their release.

Players who have been released are in a different situation. Players who have been contacted by other teams as soon as their release was announced are still lucky. However, players who do not receive contact from other teams even after their release is announced are on edge every day.

Oh Sun-jin was the latter. "It took some time. I didn't want to end my career like this," Oh said at the departure hall of Kiwoom's U.S. spring camp on Sunday. "I was waiting for your call. But no team called me," Oh said. "I couldn't wait. I made direct moves. I asked several teams about the possibility of joining the team through my agent. I really thought it was the last time."

Kim Hye-sung's departure started to communicate with Kiwoom, who needed to stabilize the infield. Oh Sun-jin said, "I started talking with Kiwoom, who listened to my will, and the contract was completed immediately. I felt so good. Now I think I can play for one to two years as a player. Kiwoom has become the last team I can play as a player."

Oh Sun-jin continued, "In fact, if I couldn't sign a contract, I had 80 to 90% of my mind that I should do something other than a player and prepare for it. In the meantime, I was so happy to sign a contract with Kiwoom."

Oh Sun-jin said, "It's a mindset of a rookie. It's not a trade, it's a release. And I came because I saved a new team. I have no choice but to take baseball more seriously." He continued, "Raising is a young team. I will try to permeate younger players well. I am strong in defense. I want to help my team by playing as a backup. Of course, if we compete, I think I can play a key role," displaying his veteran skills.