Does he consider defending KIA and FA for sure for his first multi-billion-year salary in his 12th year…I've achieved my goal of being greedy

Oct 08, 2025

Does he consider defending KIA and FA for sure for his first multi-billion-year salary in his 12th year…I've achieved my goal of being greedy
The KBO League KT Wiz and KIA Tigers match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 29th. KIA Kim Ho-ryeong, with no outs and first base, is cheering after hitting a two-run shot in the top of the eighth inning. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.08.29/



"I'm a little greedy, but I want to raise my batting average from 280 to 290."

Despite the shocking fall baseball elimination of the defending champion, KIA Tigers fans cheered for Lee's revival. Kim Ho-ryeong is preparing to fully leap to the starting center field next season.

Kim Ho-ryeong is in the second division this season. It means it was out of power. Choi Won-joon (currently NC Dinos) was the main center fielder for KIA manager Lee Bum-ho's initial plan. In terms of defensive stability, Kim Ho-ryeong had to keep the first team as the minimum backup, but he still had no faith in Kim Ho-ryeong's bat, which only hit .100 for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.




Kim Ho-ryeong did not miss the gap between Na Sung-bum's injury and Choi Won-joon and Lee Woo-sung's sluggishness. First of all, he found stability in the center line through defense, and his batting improved as he played every day. Coach Lee fixed his batting form a little while watching, and it was successful.

KIA batting coach Hong Se-wan said in June that "Form came inside and hit a little cross, but as the body opened up quickly, the bat itself hit a little back, so there were many hits going out to the right." Now I'm trying to make a hit to the left", he explained.

Kim Ho-ryeong hit .283 (94 hits in 332 at-bats) with six home runs, 39 RBIs and an OPS of 0.793 in 105 games this year. He did not exceed 100 hits, but considering the number of games, he showed enough contact ability. The batting average is career high. It is the first season in nine years since 2016 when he had 121 hits. I gained a great sense of accomplishment by surpassing the batting average of 280 which I described as "greed".




Does he consider defending KIA and FA for sure for his first multi-billion-year salary in his 12th year…I've achieved my goal of being greedy
The match between the KIA Tigers and the NC Dinos at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 27th. KIA Kim Ho-ryeong is doing batting training. Gwangju = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.27/
Does he consider defending KIA and FA for sure for his first multi-billion-year salary in his 12th year…I've achieved my goal of being greedy
KIA and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 24th, KIA Kim Ho-ryeong hits a hit with two outs and a runner on first base in the top of the fourth inning. Gocheok = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.09.24/
Kim Ho-ryeong received an annual salary of 80 million won this year. He has never exceeded 100 million won in annual salary since graduating from Gunsan Sanggo-Dongguk University and joining KIA in 2015. The annual salary of 100 million won is the same amount as the indicator that he has jumped to the main player within the team.

There is no doubt that Kim Ho-ryeong will receive his first billion won salary next year, which will mark his 12th year as a professional.

What I'm curious about is the range of impressions. Kim Ho-ryeong is expected to qualify as the first FA in her life when she finishes the 2026 season healthy. There is a possibility that KIA will catch a bigger increase than expected for the defense of internal FA.




KIA defended aggressively by raising the salaries of Park Chan-ho and Choi Won-joon, who were classified as FA big fish this year. Park Chan-ho stamped his seal at 450 million won, an increase of 150 million won from 300 million won last year, and Choi Won-joon at 400 million won, an increase of 180 million won from 220 million won.

Cho Sang-woo, who was acquired through a trade in December last year, gave 400 million won, an increase of KRW 60 million from KRW 340 million, because he was a preliminary FA even though he ended last season early due to injury.

Kim Ho-ryeong is not a big fish that will determine the game of the FA market like the three mentioned above. The club will not defend very aggressively, but the FA premium is still expected. Kim Ho-ryeong, who had the best year of her career in her 11th year as a professional, will receive the best reward of her life anyway.

Does he consider defending KIA and FA for sure for his first multi-billion-year salary in his 12th year…I've achieved my goal of being greedy
The KBO League KT Wiz and KIA Tigers match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 29th. KIA Kim Ho-ryeong is cheering after hitting a timely hit with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.08.29/




This article was translated by Naver AI translator.