Time goes by so fast. It’s already been 3 years since KIA ‘Little Keystone’ disbanded. He is playing the 2023 season again as a reserve free agent.
Kim Sun-bin (KIA) and An Chi-hong (Lotte) made their debuts in KIA in 2008 and 2009, and contributed to KIA’s 2009 and 2017 regular seasons and the integrated Korean Series victory, representing the 2010s. He was a national center infielder with both offense and defense.
They broke up ahead of the 2020 season. An Chi-hong chose Lotte with a 2+2 year 5.6 billion contract. Kim Sun-bin chose to stay at KIA for 4 years and 4 billion won. An Chi-hong is a year younger, and when he transferred, he received more contracts. Instead, Kim Seon-bin built up a long run while receiving a stable four-year term.
Looking back over the past four years, the two have lived up to their names. Kim Sun-bin has 72 hits in 241 at-bats, a batting average of 0.299, 28 RBIs, 22 runs, and an OPS of 0.710 in 71 games this season. He has no home runs and struggles with injuries large and small. However, the thumb fracture at the end of the first half was an unexpected injury (hit by NC Jason Martin’s ball), and this hamstring injury is also at a level that can be returned next week.
Over the past four years, batting averages are 0.330, 0.307, 0.287, and 0.299. When he is healthy, he can hit 6 to 70 or more RBIs and an OPS of 0.7 to 0.8. Although the injuries in his first season and this season are disappointing, his hitting technique, such as his unique pushing ability, is still intact. Although his defensive range has decreased, he is still compliant and seasoned. He is immediately injured, so his presence is revealed in the karate.
An Chi-hong has 94 hits in 314 at-bats this season, a batting average of 0.299, 5 homers, 47 RBIs, 37 runs, an OPS of 0.767, and a batting average of 0.358. In particular, he has a batting average of 0.471, 2 homers, 9 RBIs and 6 points in the last 10 games. Lotte takes the lead with other veterans at the point of squeezing their strength into the quarterfinals.
Batting averages 0.286, 0.306, 0.284, 0.299 over the past four years. He showed that he could hit 10 homers with 7-80 RBIs and an OPS of 0.7-0.8. It is also notable that he has consistently played without injury this season. With Lee Dae-ho retiring, he serves as the leader of the batting line along with Jeon Jun-woo and Jung-hoon.
Both of them are in their early to mid-30s, and are looking at the late 30s. It may not be easy to get a contract worth 4-5 billion won three years ago. However, it should be seen that the two once again showed enough ability to sign a contract of more than three years.
Currently, the best second baseman in the KBO League is Kim Hye-seong (Kiwoom). The two are next runners up. He is expected to be fully recognized for his value as a center infielder who is capable of both offense and defense. As the leaders of the infield of the two teams, the two eventually compete in good faith for the last spot in the round of 5. It is a fate that the joys and sorrows of the team’s season farming results before obtaining FA qualification are inevitable. It’s a pity that a direct confrontation didn’t happen in the first game of a three-game series this weekend.
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