Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man (47) starts the 2024 spring training with ‘less bullpen worries’. It’s time to make concrete plans for the 2024 season .Park Jin-man met with reporters at Incheon International Airport on the 30th, when the Samsung Lions left for Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, for spring training. “Last year at this time, I started spring training with worries about the bullpen,” Park recalled, “but the club reinforced the bullpen. Now we can focus on other areas,” he said .In the offseason, Samsung signed last year’s KT WIZ closer Kim Jae-yoon and Kiwoom Heroes closer Lim Chang-min .Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan signed a contract to stay.Kim Jae-yoon (32 saves), Oh Seung-hwan (30 saves) and Lim Chang-min (26 saves), who finished second in saves in 2023, will anchor the Samsung bullpen in 2024.Last year, the Samsung bullpen ranked last among the 10 teams with a 5.16 ERA. While the team struggled, the young pitchers gained experience as a “full-time bullpen.” The existing bullpen will definitely improve this year,” Park said. With the addition of Kim Jae-yoon and Lim Chang-min, our bullpen concerns have been greatly reduced.” There are many variables in the outfield.
Jose Pirela, who played the outfield or designated hitter, left the team, and David McKinnon donned a Samsung uniform. McKinnon is an infielder who played for the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball last year. “McKinnon is a key player in the outfield for the 2024 season,” Park said. “It would be ideal for him to play third base. Jae-il Oh struggled last year, but this year he’s been on fire. With him at first base and McKinnon at third, it gives the offense some breathing room “The absence of shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, who had shoulder surgery in October, will be filled by Kim Young-woong and Kang Kang-ul. Ryu Ji-hyuk, who can play all positions in the infield, is expected to see more time at second base. The basic outfield will likely consist of Koo Ja-rook in left field, Kim Sung-yoon in center field, and Kim Hyun-jun in right field. With the departure of left fielder Pirela, Kim Sung-yoon, who played well in the second half of last year, has emerged as the No. 1 center fielder.
The former center fielder will move to right field, and right fielder Koo Ja-rook will move to left field to reduce the ‘defensive burden’ .In addition, Kim “Catfish” Jae-hyuk will add a competitive spirit to the outfield. Kim joined Samsung in 2022 and played just 15 games in the first team before joining the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Commerce) for two seasons .Park said, “Kim Jae-hyuk is a player I’ve been watching since the beginning of his career. He has improved his skills in the Sangmu,” Park said, adding, “He will bring a healthy sense of competition to the outfield and help the outfield stay fit.” Although he has set his priorities, Park is willing to take a chance on any player who can overcome “fierce internal competition. Samsung has its first and second team camps in Okinawa, and Park often visits the Futures (second team) camp to keep an eye on prospects. 스포츠토토존 “It’s one of our strengths that we have first and second team camps in close proximity,” Park said.