"Born in 1992." Hong Gun-hee is already the best member of the pitching team…Invoke opt-out clause → 2026 FA surprise appearance?
"Born in 1992." Hong Gun-hee is already the best member of the pitching team…Invoke opt-out clause → 2026 FA surprise appearance?
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There he goes. Attention is focusing on whether Hong, who has already shown leadership as a pitcher's team leader, will activate the opt-out clause along with his good performance in the 2025 season. If Hong invokes the opt-out clause, it is expected to heat up the FA market even further in 2026.스포츠토토
Doosan let go of internal FA pitcher Kim Kang-ryul in the FA market this winter. At first, Doosan had in mind Kim Kang-ryul to stay, but Doosan had to watch LG's aggressive last-minute offensive, which desperately needed to strengthen its bullpen.
With the departure of Kim Kang-ryul, Hong has become the best senior member of Doosan`s pitching team. Born in 1992, Hong pitched in 65 games (59.1 innings) in the 2024 season, recording four wins, three losses, nine saves and 11 holds with an ERA of 2.73 and 45 strikeouts, 33 walks and 1.48 WHIP.
Hong should also play the role of a veteran bullpen session in the 2025 season, when Kim Kang-ryul left the team. To top it off, Hong has the right to exercise the opt-out after the end of the 2025 season. With the 2024 season just around the corner, Hong acquired his first career FA status. He signed a two-plus-two-year contract with his original team Doosan for a maximum of 2.45 billion won (2.42 million U.S. dollars).
The opt-out condition that takes effect after the end of the 2025 season is an option for a player. In other words, Hong can join the free agent market after giving up his two-year, 1.5 billion won (approx. In this case, a player can have an advantage depending on his performance, as he can sign a multi-year contract without a compensation player.
The value of bullpen FA, which has been observed in the FA market this winter, seems to have risen sharply. Hong Gun-hee can also be evaluated by the market by triggering the opt-out condition if he achieves a comprehensive performance in the 2025 season. As the shackles of compensation players are lifted, there is a possibility that the recruitment of Hong Gun-hee will be fierce.
Doosan also needs to carefully plan the 2026 FA market strategy based on Hong's choice. This is why Choi Won-joon, a veteran pitcher, and Lee Young-ha, an all-weather bullpen pitcher, will be eligible for the FA after the end of the 2025 season. Notably, Lee Young-ha had a rebounding season after a long hiatus of five wins, four losses, two saves and five holds with an earned run average of 3.99, 59 strikeouts, 36 walks, and WHIP 1.50. Some teams are already showing interest in Lee Young-ha, who will come to the FA market after the end of the 2025 season.
Of course, the Doosan club shows sufficient confidence in fostering the inside of the bullpen. With young pitchers already showing outstanding pitching in the first division of the 2024 season, including Kim Taek-yeon, Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-gang and Choi Jong-in, Kim Yu-sung, Park Ji-ho, Yoon Tae-ho, Kim Moo-bin and Hong Min-gyu also received great attention as new faces in last fall's closing camp.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop also does not seem to be worried at all about pitchers' part. "For pitchers, I have to worry too much about making a roster for the first-team spring camp before joining the team. Of course, we need to check how young pitchers will perform in actual games, rather than practicing pitching in the bullpen. The pitcher's part certainly has high expectations. He could bring quite a few new faces to the first-team spring camp," Lee said with a smile.
I wonder what kind of movement Doosan will show depending on whether Hong Gun-hee will trigger the opt-out clause after the end of the 2025 season.