Jung Eun-won (23), who became the first second baseman to win a Golden Glove while playing for Hanwha just two years ago, could see time in the outfield. With fearless rookie Moon Hyun-bin (19) showing competitiveness at second base, Jung’s versatility may not be limited to the infield.
Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho revealed his plans for the season-ending offseason camp in Miyazaki, Japan, before the team’s game against KT in Daejeon on April 17. One of them is how to utilize Jung Eun-won and Moon Hyun-bin, who have overlapping positions at second base. In order to use both of them, one of them will have to go to the outfield, and it is possible that it will be Jung Eun-won instead of Moon Hyun-bin. Both players will participate in the final camp after the season. This is where the competition will determine who owns second base.
Choi Won-ho said, “It’s hard to fix the problems that appeared during the season. We need to spend enough time on each part during the wrap-up camp to complement it and establish it for next year.” As for Moon Hyun-bin’s future position, which is attracting a lot of attention, Choi said, “I will try to do all the defensive drills during the wrap-up camp and listen to the coaches’ opinions. Currently, my defense is said to be worse than in spring training, but I need to see how much I can improve in the training league and final camp after the season.”
Moon Hyun-bin, who played second base at Bukil High School, started the season in center field after joining the team this year. With Jung Eun-won, the 2021 Golden Glove second baseman, as the starter, a position change was inevitable for Moon to play in the first team. Moon, who was used as a multi-role player by switching between center field, shortstop and second base until early May under former manager Carlos Suvero, has been almost fixed in center field since Choi Won-ho took over.메이저놀이터
However, as Jeong Eun-won’s slump in both offense and defense lasted longer than expected, and Moon Hyun-bin’s increasingly shaky defense in the middle infield, changes were made. Moon Hyun-bin became the starting second baseman in the middle of last month when Jung Eun-won was dropped from the starting lineup and demoted to the second team. It was a big opportunity for Moon, who had been practicing his infield defense even when he was playing in center field and had become attached to the second base position. Even after Jung Eun-won’s return to the first team, Moon Hyun-bin has been playing a high percentage of second base.
That’s not to say that Jung can be left on the bench. Although he’s having the worst season of his career this year, batting just 2-for-22 (83-for-367) with two home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .617 OPS in 108 games, there are few hitters in the Hanwha lineup with as much first-team experience and something to show for it at the plate. He’s also drawn 62 walks this year, and his on-base percentage (.342) isn’t bad. He is a player that Hanwha will need to utilize somehow, regardless of the development of Moon Hyun-bin.
Choi Won-ho has an unconventional plan to test Jung Eun-won in the outfield. Choi said, “I’m going to give Jung Eun-won some outfield training in the final camp. If she continues to play second base, she won’t be able to play much (if Moon Hyun-bin becomes the starter). I’m also thinking that it would be better for her to play the outfield if her defense is similar to other players and her batting is better. I will try different things in the final camp and see what the coaches think. We will train a lot. I have to decide (the position) by the time I leave after the camp.”
It’s an embarrassing realization for Jeong, who was the best second baseman in the league just two years ago, but it’s a sobering one. It’s a fact of life in the professional arena that if you stagnate or become complacent, you could lose your spot at any time. Rival Moon Hyun-bin has been on a fast track since his rookie year, hitting .357 (91-for-357) with four home runs, 38 RBIs and a .663 OPS in 115 games.
Moon, who has the most hits of any rookie this year, is on pace to become just the seventh high school rookie in history to reach the 100-hit plateau, joining LG’s Kim Jae-hyun (134) in 1994, Samsung’s Lee Seung-yeop (104) in 1995, Hyundai’s Park Jin-man (102) in 1996, Hattae’s Jung Sung-hoon (107) in 1999, Nexen’s Lee Jung-hoo (179) in 2017 and KT’s Kang Baek-ho (153) in 2018.
“It’s a tough season for Eun-won personally,” Choi said. If baseball was going his way, he would be a superstar, but it’s not. Still, it’s good to have a rival (Moon Hyun-bin). It’s a good rivalry to improve each other’s skills.” “Eun-won is still young. There are many players who have moved from the infield to the outfield. Eun-won was originally a shortstop,” he said, adding that he had high hopes for him.