KIA Tigers infielder Byun Woo-hyuk 메이저사이트 returned to the first team on the first day of the second half after shaking off an injury.
Manager Kim Jong-kook added infielder Byun Woo-hyuk and pitchers Kim Yoo-shin and Mario Sanchez to the first team roster ahead of the Gwangju game against the Doosan Bears on June 21. Sanchez will start the game. Woo-hyuk Byun and Yoo-shin Kim were called up to bolster the infield and bullpen.
Woo-hyuk Byun has been with the first team since the start of the season. He has 141 at-bats in 48 games. He batted just 2-for-2, but he hit six home runs and collected 20 RBIs.
He also hit his first career grand slam. Both the games and at-bats were career highs.
Kim has high hopes for the long-hitting corner infielder. “It’s hard for him to play as a signature hitter right now, but he needs to keep gaining experience for next year and the year after,” Kim said, adding that he utilized him in the first team. He started at first base and third base, as well as pinch-hitting.
On June 26, he was removed from the first team with right Achilles tendinitis. The injury wasn’t too serious, and he was reinstated to the Futures team on July 1. In 20 at-bats, he went 6-for-20 (.300). Included one home run and two doubles.
He joined the first team during the All-Star break and worked out with them before being designated for assignment.
Manager Kim Jong-kook said, “He’ll play first and third base. First, I will prepare as a special (pinch-hitter) against left-handed pitchers. He has a long bat, so we’ll use him when we need him.”
