[엑스포츠뉴스 김현세 기자] Jin-wook Kim said that it was an honor to join Lotte as a fan of the Lotte Giants and as a winner of the 3rd Presidential High School Choi Dong-won Award. He, who had been called’Rot Jin-wook’ from an early age, said,’Now I want to catch a lot of Samjin, so I want the nickname’Sam Jin-wook’.
Kim Jin-wook joined Lotte after being nominated for the first overall rookie draft in 2021. It has been said that he, who was the best left-handed pitcher in high school, would join Lotte, who had the overall number 1 nomination right before joining the company. Lotte signed a contract with him for 370 million won. It reflects the expectations of potential players.
Kim Jin-wook, who has been living at Lotte Sangdong Baseball Stadium in Gimhae since the end of last year, asked’the meaning of joining Lotte as a high school Choi Dong-won Prize winner’ in a non-face-to-face video interview on the 7th. I was happy to be able to do it. I thought it was given by Director Choi Dong-won, and it was an honor to join Lotte.
In recent years, Lotte has been implementing a recovery program after joining a rookie. The purpose is to relieve the overload accumulated in the amateur days. Jinwook Kim also went through that process. He said, “I joined last November, but I threw a lot in high school, so I had time to recover. My trainer taught me a good training method, so I am in really good shape. He also said that he is pitching in practice according to the rookie camp schedule, and he is throwing well without injury or overreaching.
The goal this season is to enter the first group. Kim Jin-wook said, “As an intermediate pitcher, there is a lot to learn in various ways such as ball count fights, so it would be really good to learn it with your seniors and then even go to the starting rotation.
There is also a possibility that Kim Jin-wook will be given an opportunity to participate due to the composition of the first army. For Kim Jin-wook, it may be a condition that can be shown by the existing left-hander. He said, “I know there is a shortage of left-handers, but I think it could be a good opportunity for me.”
Regarding the nickname that I want to get while playing at Lotte in the future, he said, “I’ve joined’Rot Jin-wook’ as an undeserved nickname,” and said, “Now I joined, and I want to catch a lot of strikeouts. Laughed. He added, “Lotte’s poor performance makes fans a lot of concern, but I will work hard this year to become a pitcher leading the Giants’ victory.”
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