“Korean Lindor? It lacks a lot.”
NC captain Son A-seop said of Kim Joo-won (21) at the Tucson spring camp last February, “Our Joo-won is Korea’s Lindor.” Actually, it was a bit exaggerated, but it is true that Kim Joo-won’s potential is great. He has been famous as a shortstop with long hits since his reporting days, and last year also recorded an OPS of 0.719 with 10 homers, 47 RBIs and 10 stolen bases with a batting average of 0.223 in 96 games.
His physique is not very large, but his long hitting power is his biggest charm. Also, his feet are quite fast. It is not so easy to see a second-year high school graduate hitting 10 home runs and stealing 10 bases. If you look at it up close, it boasts a pretty solid body. Although his defense and throws are somewhat inaccurate at times, he is evaluated as having a high-quality defense compared to center infielders of his age.
He is even a switch hitter, and the club and he do not recommend standing on one side of the plate. NC is testing the possibility by using Kim Joo-won as a full-time shortstop this year. Beyond Son Si-heon, who was in charge of the central infield in the early days of the club, we are looking at the possibility of growing into the next-generation star of NC. The industry sees him as a player who can grow into the second Kim Ha-seong.
Currently, there is no player with a similar character in the KBO League. Such Kim Joo-won doesn’t go through a lot of fun and constantly manages his body through weight training, and he pays more attention to the stability of the defense than anyone else. He met after the Changwon KIA game was canceled on the 7th, saying, “I am not satisfied with just small mistakes in defense. However, defense and hitting are different areas. Even if he makes a mistake in defense, he is not affected by the blow.”
The motto of the defense is ‘stability’. As a switch hitter, it takes twice as long to practice hitting on both sides. However, hitting is hitting, and I have a desirable idea that defense is more important to contribute to the team right away. 안전놀이터
Kim Joo-won said, “Since high school, I have hit a few long shots. Even now, both sides try to hit with confidence. In the pro, he does weight training thoroughly. He does it 2-3 times a week during the season. I put less weight than in the off-season, but I still hit it a little.”
Will Kim Joo-won really be able to grow into the best shortstop in both offense and defense like Korea’s Francisco Lindor (New York Mets)? He said, “It is very lacking. He has to work harder”. Then he talked about defense again. He said, “I look for a lot of videos of players who are good at defense. When I look at it, I follow it without even realizing it. He said, “If he plays well on defense first and hits well, he is a plus alpha.”
Kim Joo-won recorded 25 hits in 94 at bats in 28 games this season with a batting average of 0.266, 3 home runs, 13 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 4 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.741. It’s true that the defense is a bit shaky this season with eight errors in 28 games versus 11 errors in 96 games last year. It’s a precious season in which both offense and defense play full-time, worry fiercely, get frustrated, and get back on their feet.