“Anyway, I want it.”
Suwon Stadium on the 19th. A dugout interview with KT coach Lee Kang-cheol ahead of the match between KT Wiz and SSG Landers. While head coach Lee Kang-cheol was having a long conversation with the reporters, SSG’s training began.
One of them came out with a bat to practice batting and snooped in front of the KT bench. 메이저놀이터Then, after making eye contact with coach Lee Kang-cheol, he bowed his head a couple of times and went back to training. It was Choi Ji-hoon, the SSG main outfielder.
Director Lee Kang-chul, who was staring at Choi Ji-hoon’s back, began to praise him, saying, “I want it anyway.” Coach Lee praised him, saying, “He did well. He is faster than others when defending in the outfield. He catches and hits the ball faster than other players. His throwing strength is not inferior to other outfielders. He is accurate and has a good shoulder.”
Director Lee Kang-cheol and Choi Ji-hoon have a school relationship. Choi Ji-hoon joined SK Wyverns (now SSG) in 2020 as a college graduate from Dongguk University and Gwangju Ilgo, the alma mater of director Lee Kang-cheol. Director Lee Kang-chul laughed, “I thought it was because the electronic display board said he was from Dongguk University, but he also came from Gwangju International High School. But Ji-hoon came to say hello and said, ‘That Mudeung Middle School also came.'” Director Lee Kang-cheol is also from Gwangju Mudeungjeung.
In fact, academic ties do not have a special influence. This is especially true between coaches and players of other teams, such as coach Lee Kang-cheol and Choi Ji-hoon. However, if you meet from the same alma mater, from your hometown, ‘a little more’
The two, who had no contact before this, made a relationship as coaches and players in the same team for the first time in the WBC national team. Choi Ji-hoon was selected as a substitute player and boarded the national team in the last turn when major leaguer Choi Ji-man’s final joining failed. However, his performance in this tournament was excellent regardless of offense and defense. It was his first WBC and first national team appearance, but he was able to imprint the name Choi Ji-hoon again. Coach Lee Kang-cheol saw Choi Ji-hoon practicing batting and praised him one more time, saying, “Among the six outfielders in the national team, he was not pushed behind.
After graduating from high school, Choi Ji-hoon, who had been wandering around due to a failure to be nominated for a professional club, joined the 2nd and 3rd rounds as a college-educated fielder and has now grown into a national team member as well as a key resource for the team. His performance is well imprinted on other team coaches. That’s great growth.