“I wanted to focus more because I was facing my old team in Jamsil.”
Kang Jin-sung (30-SSG Landers) made a substitute appearance against the Doosan Bears in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ at Jamsil Stadium on the 26th. He replaced Jeon Eui-san at second base in the top of the sixth inning with his team leading 7-3.
On this day, Kang Jin-seong played his second game for SSG. He faced his former team just one day after joining SSG from Doosan in a trade on the 25th. On the 25th, he made his SSG debut as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning against the Incheon LG Twins.
In the second game, Kang got his first hit and RBI for SSG. In his first at-bat, in the top of the sixth inning, he hit a grounder to third base against reliever Park Jung-soo.메이저놀이터
His long-awaited first hit came in his second at-bat. With two outs in the top of the eighth inning and his team leading 7-3, Lee crushed a two-seam fastball from reliever Lee Hyung-beom for a two-run double. In his third at-bat, he was retired on a three-pitch strikeout against Kim Ho-joon.
Kang’s final line on the day was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. He came on late in the game and recorded his first hit and RBI of the season.
“I came up to bat with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. I felt like I didn’t swing confidently in my previous at-bats, so this time I swung the bat with the idea of ‘swinging confidently and hard,’ and it paid off,” he said, adding, “I also wanted to focus more because I was playing against my home team in my bedroom.”
This year, Kang didn’t get many opportunities with Doosan, but he maintained a good hitting pace, batting .339 (21-for-62) with nine RBIs and an OPS of .844 in 21 games in the Futures League. After the trade, he tried to carry over the batting form he showed in the Futures to the first team.
“Since the beginning of the year, my hitting and timing were good in the second team, and I got a chance to play in the first team. I wanted to come to a new team and make a contribution, and I want to continue to show the fans a good image. I ask the fans to support me as much as they do now,” he said.
SSG head coach Kim Won-hyung also applauded Kang’s performance. “(Kang) Jinsung got his first hit and RBI after the trade, and I’m looking forward to seeing him at the plate,” he said, giving him a thumbs-up.