“I’m excited, I have good feelings.”
Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Joo Sung-won, 23, was named to the roster for the 2023 KBO Futures All-Star Game, scheduled to be held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on Thursday.바카라사이트
For many fans, Joo’s name may still be unfamiliar. Joo, who joined the Heroes with the 24th pick in the third round of the 19th Draft from Busan Daeyeoncho (Namguritte), Shin Jeongjoong, and Gaesung High School, was a catcher when he joined the team, but after leaving the military, he switched to the outfield to take advantage of his hitting talent.
Last year, Joo played in 81 games, batting .230 with 57 hits, 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and 39 runs scored, tying for the Futures North League lead. This year has been even better. In 49 games for the Futures, he is batting .309 with 58 hits, six home runs, 32 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
On 27 April against the SSG Landers, he recorded his 31st career cycling hit in the Futures League. It was more than two years and seven months after Han Seok-hyun on 23 September 2020.
On the 12th, he got his first hit in his dream first-team debut for his hometown KT Wiz.
When we met on the 14th, Joo Sung-won said, “It’s not where I was born, but I grew up in Busan from a very young age. The All-Star Game is being held at Sajik Stadium in Busan, and it feels good to participate. I’m excited and I think it’s a good feeling. My parents are also coming down to watch the game now.”
He recalled the moment he got his first hit in his first team debut on the 12th. Joo Sung-won batted leadoff in the bottom of the ninth inning with his team trailing 3-4 and lined a 146km fastball from Kim Jae-yoon for a single to centre field. But he couldn’t smile after the hit because his team was losing.
“I didn’t know if it was because we were losing or if I was just in a good mood. I was in a funk. The team was losing. I was the leadoff hitter, so I had to survive. I felt good to get on base, but I didn’t feel good just because I got the first hit,” he said. “I want to be a player that can help the team win, that can contribute to the team winning, and that motivates me to work harder.”
He still thinks he’s not good enough, so he has to work harder.
“I’m still not good enough, but I feel like I’m improving from last year. I’m always trying to work harder,” he said, adding, “I don’t consider myself a long hitter. I’m just trying to get good at-bats. I think the results will follow,” he said encouragingly.
“I want to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday without getting injured,” he concluded, “I heard that I’m not starting today, but I’m going to go out there and bat in important situations and get good results.”