Reporter Lee Hyung-joo = Kim Tae-gun (33) has been changing the atmosphere of the team with his excellent performance since his transfer.
The KIA Tigers won 7-0 against the KT Wiz in the 2023 Shinhan Bank Solar KBO League at KT Wiz Park on Aug. 8. With 34 wins, one loss, and 38 ties in 73 games, KIA is in seventh place, tied with the sixth-place Kiwoom Heroes and separated only by winning percentage.
On May 5, a trade was announced that caused a stir in the KBO. KIA sent infielder Ryu Ji-hyuk to the Samsung Lions in exchange for catcher Kim Tae-gun.
This trade was met with strong reactions from KIA fans. Was it because they didn’t like Kim Tae-gun? No, it wasn’t. This was a team that had been bleeding money when it didn’t have to, as Jang Jeong-seok’s predecessor missed out on Park Dong-won, who was a favorite to stay, and then blew a draft pick on Kim Dong-heon to bolster the catching staff. This was a reaction to the loss of valuable outfielder Ryu Ji-hyuk, who was highly regarded within the squad and was considered to be the next captain.메이저놀이터
However, since the trade, Kim Tae-gun has been playing exceptionally well and has completely soothed KIA fans’ worries. In addition to his solid defense, Kim has been on fire on offense.
In the top of the eighth inning, with runners on second and third, Kim hit a single to right field off of pitcher Lee Sun-woo, which proved to be the difference maker. It was his fourth consecutive hit and fifth RBI in four games since joining the team. Thanks to Kim Tae-gun’s performance, KIA has won four straight games.
In the old Joseon court, the term “mama” was used to refer to the highest-ranking royalty, such as the queen, queen consort, and czarina. If the recipients of the title handled their royal duties well, they would benefit the country. This is reminiscent of the catcher Ahn Bang-ma-nim in baseball, who mainly handles the inner workings of the game, and is how Kim Tae-gun earned the nickname Taegun Mama.
A four-game hitting streak and stable play. It’s thanks to Taegun Mama, who switched teams shortly after the transfer, that KIA has found a way to rebound.