I hope you can use it more patiently A legendary second-year infielder who caught the eye, Hanwha Hwang Young-mook resembled the tough Hanwha Hwang Young-mook in the college dropout independent league

Jun 17, 2025

Yakult infielder Ito hit his first professional home run in an interleague away game against Seibu on June 5. The first home run became the winning home run that led to the team's victory. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

14일 대전 LG전. Hanwha Hwang Young-mook, who succeeded in a squeeze bunt with one out and runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh inning. Daejeon = Reporter Song Jeong-heon

Yakult infielder Ito dropped out of college and went through an independent league to become a professional player. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

In January last year, when he was about to make his professional debut, Hanwha Eagles infielder Hwang Young-mook, 26, pictured himself playing baseball in front of a packed audience from the first time he started playing baseball" He wanted to see fans chanting his name and singing cheering songs. I went straight looking at just one baseball and finally made my name known and my dream come true. He played 123 games in his first year as a professional and played 63 games this season. He has a career-high 147 hits and 46 RBIs.

As is widely known, there were many twists and turns. Before graduating from Chunghoon High School, I went to college because I couldn't get a professional nomination. He dropped out in the first grade and joined the military and served at the front line of Hwacheon, Gangwon-do. He was discharged from the military and received professional nominations through three independent league teams. Hanwha called Hwang Young-mook in the 2024 rookie draft. a fourth-round pick. Last winter's annual salary jumped from 30 million won to 83 million won. It has increased by about 177 percent.

Yakult Swallows infielder Ito Ryui (23). Looking at his career, Hwang Young-mook, who passed through the thorny path and became a professional player, overlaps. It's the same that he dropped out of college, and he's from an independent league.

Ito went to Tokyo Agricultural University after graduating from high school. I had to leave baseball for a while after playing in a league game since I was a freshman. Due to a lack of credits, I was paid and expelled. It is said that he worked part-time at Izakaya for about three months.

I was thinking about giving up baseball, but my brother pulled his hand. I played a few games for my brother's club baseball team. My dream of baseball came to life. He joined Niigata Albirex in the independent league BC League in May 2023 at the recommendation of his coach during his school days. Non-full-time trainee status

Ito hits three home runs in the interleague, ranking second in the category. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

started over with.

The awl in the pocket is bound to stick out.

He joined during the season and quickly adapted. He hit .336-4 with 32 RBIs in 41 games. He played very well in the professional second division and the game. The professional team began to watch. Yakult was the fifth pick in the rookie draft held in October of that year. In other words, he became a professional athlete with the shortest course.

It's my second year of joining the club. Fill it up one by one. On April 20, he replaced the Yomiuri Giants as a pinch-runner in a home game. He hit a right-handed hit in his first at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. He reported his first professional hit. He hit a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs and runners on the second and third bases. I had my first walk-off hit in my life as well as a professional.

Ito has recently started as a shortstop. The Pacific League and the Inter League (exchange match) are outstanding.

June 5 away against the Seibu Lions. 9 - Went out as a shortstop and entered his first at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the top of the third inning. Opponent left-hander Sugai Shin

In his second year of joining the club, Ito hit his first hit and recorded his first home run. He had nine hits, three homers and 10 RBIs until the game against Chiba Lotte on the 15th. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

Wow, the game was over in no time. He hit a fastball in the middle of the first pitch and flew it to the left outfield stands at Verunadom. My first professional home run. It is the final shot that made it a 4-1 victory.

He is tied for second in this category by hitting three home runs in the interleague. Ito had three hits and five RBIs in three consecutive away games against the Chiba Lotte Marines on the 12th and 15th. As experience has been accumulated, opportunities to play are increasing.

Ito had a batting average of 0.205 (9 hits in 44 at-bats) - three homers - 10 RBIs - and an OPS of 0.748 in 30 games until the 15th. The team cannot get out of the bottom, but it shows hope for the team.

Yakult "Legend" Shinya Miyamoto recently said on her YouTube channel, "I hope you can refer to Ito a little bit." I want to see a little more." He is playing as a starter due to his good recent performance, but he wants to keep playing even if his batting pace drops. It is important to take advantage of limited opportunities, but you can grow only when you give them a chance.

Hwang Young-mook of the Hanwha Eagles dropped out of college and completed his military service, and achieved his dream of becoming a professional player through three independent league teams. Daejeon = Reporter Song Jeong-heon

Yakult is increasingly going beyond recovery. As of the 16th, when he played 59 games, he has 18 wins, 2 draws and 39 losses, and a winning rate of 0.316. It was 14.5 games apart from the first-place Hanshin Tigers and nine games apart from the fifth-place Chunichi Dragons.

Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.