After the conclusion of the KBO Secondary Draft on April 22, the biggest topic of conversation was the selection of Kim Kang-min (41) by the Hanwha Eagles. The move of the iconic player, who was selected in the second round (18th overall) of the 2001 draft by the SK Wyverns (now the SSG Landers), the first rookie draft of the organization, and has never left the team, sent shockwaves both inside and outside the organization.


Kim was a part of SSG's history and a living witness to the ups and downs of Incheon baseball in the 2000s. He was there for every moment of glory that SK and SSG experienced. Starting in 2007, when they won their first championship, he led them to five Korean Series (KS) titles in 2008, 2010, 2018, and 2022.


It's no wonder that Kim's departure was met with such a strong reaction. Kim's SSG teammates Kim Kwang-hyun (35) and Han Yoo-seom (34) also expressed their disappointment on social media (SNS). Fans also expressed their disappointment through various channels and criticized the club for excluding Kim from the 35-player protected list. There were also many who criticized Hanwha for pushing for Kim's designation. SSG fans can't help but be saddened by the loss of a legendary player who is considered a permanent fixture.


But in the end, it's not even a controversial issue. SSG removed Kim Kang-min from the protected list. Hanwha simply named Kim Kang-min, who was not on the protected list as per the rules. This is their right. If they needed Kim, the SSG should have placed him on the protected list.


Hanwha included Park Chan-ho, who was contemplating retirement when he was designated for assignment in 2012, on the 20-man roster. Furthermore, a baseball insider who requested anonymity said, "In this year's second round draft, players who were considering retirement were listed in the 'Remarks' section, but Kim Kang-min was not one of them."


The reason for the selection was also clear. "We thought he had the skills to strengthen the outfield, play great defense, and serve as a pinch-hitter," Hanwha said, "and we thought he could relate to the younger outfielders on our team and help them grow." Kim has been playing center field even at a ripe old age thanks to his excellent batting judgment and quickness. This season, he appeared in 33 games (22 starts) and played 202.1 innings in center field. 호텔카지노 



There have been similar cases in the past in professional basketball. Superstar Lee Sang-min (now coach of KCC), who joined Hyundai Electronics (now Busan KCC) in 1995 before the league's inception and played for the same team until the 2006-2007 season, was transferred to Seoul Samsung as compensation for the transfer of free agent Seo Jang-hoon. At the time, teams signing free agents in professional basketball were only allowed to designate up to three players as reserves, including the signee, and Samsung, having lost Seo, insisted on designating Lee, who was off the list. Lee, who was 35 years old at the time, was expected to retire as a "one-club man" for KCC, and the sudden move stirred up "fan sentiment". However, there were no problems in the process.

The same goes for Kim Kang-min's transfer. It's absurd that the phrase "team spirit" even appears. All that remains is to wait and respect Kim's choice.