▲ Jang Hyun-sik reunites with catcher Park Dong-won at the LG Twins. ⓒ KIA Tigers
▲ Park Dong-won ⓒReporter Kwak Hye-mi
[스포티비뉴스=타이베이(대만), 김민경 기자] “These days, there are so many theories (related to FA). As a joke, I asked, ‘Are you coming to LG?’ “When I asked him, he didn’t message me for two days.”
LG Twins catcher Park Dong-won is currently staying in Taipei, Taiwan. He was selected as a representative of the ‘2024 Premier 12’, wore the Taegeuk symbol for the first time in his life, and has been continuing local adaptation training in Taipei, where the group stage will be held, from the 8th. Park Dong-won often listens to news related to FA when he rests at his dorm after training, and he saw a rumor that Jang Hyun-sik, who was in the FA market, was preparing to transfer to LG.
Park Dong-won thought that Jang Hyun-sik’s transfer rumor was just a rumor floating around online and therefore had no credibility. Park Dong-won thought it would be a good idea to play a prank, so he sent a text message to Jang Hyun-sik asking, ‘Are you coming to LG?’, but there was no reply for two days and the message remained in the ‘unread’ status. Park Dong-won would have been embarrassed.
It was a dive for a reason. On the 11th, Jang Hyun-sik signed a four-year free agent contract with LG worth a total of 5.2 billion won. It was an unprecedented contract that fully guaranteed 5.2 billion won, with a down payment of 1.6 billion won and an annual salary of 3.6 billion won. It was clearly a necessary decision on LG’s part to not give an option to a pitcher with a high risk of injury.
LG explained the background of his recruitment, saying, “Jang Hyun-sik is a middle pitcher with proven outstanding pitching and control, and he has shown his value well this season and is expected to be of great help in managing our club’s bullpen pitching staff.”
The 11th was the national team’s first rest day in Taiwan. Park Dong-won was resting at his dorm when his national team teammate, LG pitcher Lim Chan-gyu, contacted him and delivered the news of Jang Hyun-sik’s contract.
Park Dong-won said, “First of all, I said congratulations to (Jang) Hyun-sik. I guess there are too many rumors these days. I’m in Taiwan, so I don’t have any news, and as a joke, I asked, ‘Are you coming to LG?’ and he didn’t text me for two days. Really on purpose. Suddenly, yesterday, (On the 11th), while I was in the room, (Lim) Chan-gyu contacted me and said that Hyun-sik had signed a contract. At that time, Hyun-sik read the text message,” he replied and laughed.
He added, “I asked Hyunsik, ‘Hey, do you keep sending (texts) while diving?’ and he said, ‘It was a surprise.’ I must have been stung. I didn’t know anything and was just watching YouTube.”
▲ Jang Hyun-sik ⓒ KIA Tigers
▲ Park Dong-won ⓒ Yonhap News
Park Dong-won warmly welcomed Jang Hyun-sik, who followed him. Park Dong-won changed his uniform from KIA Tigers to LG ahead of the 2023 season. Park Dong-won was traded from Kiwoom Heroes to KIA, which was in desperate need of home reinforcements, during the 2022 season, and increased his value by recording a batting average of 0.242 (93 hits in 385 at-bats), 18 home runs, and 57 RBIs in 123 games that year. Park Dong-won was considering a non-FA multi-year contract with KIA, but changed teams by signing a 4-year contract with LG for 6.5 billion won. As soon as he was transferred last year, Park Dong-won proved his worth as a 20-home run slugger, contributing to LG’s overall championship, and this year he also achieved 20 home runs for two consecutive years, proving his value as an offensive catcher.
Park Dong-won, the master of the house, worked with Jang Hyun-sik briefly in the 2022 season, so he wants to be a special helper so that Jang Hyun-sik can quickly establish himself as LG’s sure-to-win team next season.
Park Dong-won said, “Hyunsik has done really well. I hope there will be a lot of people saying that he went (to LG) to do well. This is Hyunsik’s first time at LG. I was also a teammate in the past, and while talking with Hyunsik, he said, ‘What is needed? “I will help you whenever I can,” he said emphatically. “I will do my best to help Hyunsik adapt quickly.”
On the other hand, KIA third baseman Kim Do-young, who plays for the national team, did not hide his disappointment over Jang Hyun-sik’s departure. He said he was even more heartbroken because it was the transfer of a colleague who led KIA to a combined championship this year.
Kim Do-young said, “What I always felt was that I just wanted this member to continue as is. I felt it greatly when we won this year, but it is a little disappointing that one person is missing. Still, the other players all have great talent. Also, Hyun-sik (as a pitcher and batter) “I think it would be fun to meet him,” he said.
When Kim Do-young was asked whether he would ask Jang Hyun-sik to buy him a delicious meal since he signed a good contract with him, he answered briefly and boldly, “If you are a senior, regardless of money,” making the scene burst into laughter.
Hyunsik Jang graduated from Seoul High School and joined NC Dinos in the 1st round, 9th overall, in 2013. He remains a lifelong prospect in NC, but after being traded to KIA in 2020, he rapidly grew into a sure-to-win team. In the 2021 season, he won the hold title with 34 holds. His overall performance in the 11th KBO season is 437 games, 32 wins, 36 losses, 7 saves, 91 holds, 592 innings, and an ERA of 4.91. This year, he contributed to KIA’s overall championship by recording 5 wins, 16 holds, 75⅓ innings, and an ERA of 3.94 in 75 games.
After completing his contract with LG, Jang Hyun-sik said, “I am grateful to the LG team for giving me a good opportunity. I also sincerely thank the KIA and NC fans for their love and support. I will do my best to receive a lot of love from LG fans in the future. “I will also work hard to help achieve the best results with LG’s good senior and junior players,” he said.
▲ LG strengthened its bullpen by recruiting right-handed reliever Jang Hyun-sik in the free agent market. Jang Hyun-sik is shaking hands with LG CEO Kim In-seok after signing a free agent contract with LG. ⓒLG Twins
▲ LG finally succeeded in reinforcing its bullpen by recruiting right-handed reliever Jang Hyun-sik in the free agent market. Jang Hyun-sik is shaking hands with LG CEO Kim In-seok after signing a free agent contract with LG. ⓒLG Twins
