Kiwoom Jang Jae-young, 'turned hitter', hits 4 hits, including his first home run as a professional

Coach Hong Won-ki “We have to check through each step we have to be able to play defense.”

Kiwoom Heroes Jang Jae-young

Jae-young Jang (22) of Kiwoom Heroes, who recently converted to a batsman, performed well, hitting his first home run in the Futures League (2nd division).

Jaeyoung Jang started as designated hitter number 6 in the home game against the LG Twins 2nd team in the 2024 Professional Baseball Futures League held at the national baseball training center in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 24th, and recorded 4 hits in 6 at-bats, including a home run, 5 RBIs, and 2 runs, leading the team to 18-1. 6 led to a major victory.

The home run came in the bottom of the 4th inning with one out and runners on first and second base with a 7-2 lead.

Against LG's Ha Young-jin, Jae-young Jang hit a high slider at 135 km/h with a ball count of 1 ball-1 strike and hit a 3-point home run to the left with a distance of 115 m.

This is the first time Jaeyoung Jang has hit a home run since his professional debut.

Jang Jae-young, who was both a pitcher and a batter while attending Deoksu High School, joined Kiwoom in 2021 and focused on being a pitcher, but recently switched to a batsman as his elbow injury worsened.

He has been playing as a batsman in the Futures League since the 21st.

Kiwoom first team coach Hong Won-ki did not lose his calm after hearing the news of Jang Jae-young's home run.

Coach Hong said ahead of the KBO League away game against KT Wiz held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do on this day, "Jang Jae-young has now started training as a batsman, so the second-team batting performance is not important," and "We have to check it at some stage." "he said.

He added, “Currently, in the first team, Lee Joo-hyung continues to play as a designated hitter (due to a muscle problem behind his thigh),” and added, “For Jang Jae-young to be promoted to the first team, he must be able to play defense.”

Jaeyoung Jang declared his intention to play shortstop as he transitioned to a hitter, and at the suggestion of the club, he is receiving defensive training as a center fielder and shortstop. 사설토토