Choi Wonjun and Lee Woosung are the only ones that matterDirector Lee Ho-joon's unconventional Hong Jong-pyo brought in to make a main player
Aug 10, 2025
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A 3-3 mega trade between the KIA Tigers and the NC Dinos. Among the players who came from KIA to NC, Choi Won-joon and Lee Woo-sung received attention. He has the ability to change the game by playing as a main player right away, and he had no choice but to attract attention for various stories. Choi Won-joon played as Kia's flagship player and even traded after a shocking fall in the preliminary FA season, and Lee Woo-sung returned to his home NC.
However, there is another dark horse hidden in this trade. It's infielder Hong Jong-pyo.
He is a player who has a lot of things. After graduating from Gangneung High School, he was nominated by KIA with the 16th overall ranking in the second round in the 2020 Rookie Draft. Typically, it is the type of public-water-state. He has good contact skills, complies with infield defense, and is quick on his feet. Last year, he played in 100 games as a pinch-runner and a pinch-runner, and had 115 at-bats, but he also had a batting average of 295.
NC manager Lee Ho-joon does not only expect Choi Won-joon and Lee Woo-sung. It is believed that Hong Jong-pyo can grow into a player who will be in charge of the NC infield within a few years. Director Lee said, `Hong Jong-pyo has a lot of things. Of course, we need to work harder."
Right now, it's a backup. NC infield has a strong main player. At second base, there is a man, Park Min-woo, and shortstop Kim Joo-won is also a resource that head coach Lee believes in. Kim Hui-jip and Seo Ho-cheol are on third base.
Hong Jong-pyo is a suitable player for second base or shortstop. Director Lee said "Minwoo is on second base. It is right to go as a backup right away this year. Jong-pyo is not in a situation where he can catch Min-woo or Joo-won right now, but "We have to grow by acting as a backup like this." I brought Jong-pyo because I thought he was a player who could play the main role. I didn't bring him as a friend to use only as a backup. I will continue to study baseball."
Park Min-woo is 32 years old this year. Inevitably, the range of defense will gradually decrease. NC has signed an eight-year long-term contract, but it has to prepare for the future when it comes to defense. Hong Jong-pyo, who has already completed his mandatory military service, can be at the center of it.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
