An imposing physique, fluid movements, and a long bat.
Heading into the quarterfinals of the 78th Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjungwang (co-sponsored by Chosun Ilbo, Sports Chosun, and the Korea Baseball Softball Association), Kang Tae-wan (18, Daegu Sangwon High School) is the latest sensation. After going 5-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs and four runs scored in the first game of the tournament against Milyang BC, he went 3-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs in the second game of the tournament against K-POP Go at Mokdong Stadium on Saturday, helping the team to a 9-1 victory in the seventh inning.메이저놀이터
Kang Tae-wan, batting sixth and playing first base, started things off with a solo shot to right field in the top of the second inning to give his team a 2-0 lead. In the third inning, he made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field to put runners on first and third. A fly to right field in the fourth inning ended his hitting streak, but he added an RBI single to center field with two outs in the sixth inning to make it 8-1 and help the team complete the cold start in the seventh inning.
The 1.86-meter, left-handed hitter is a versatile player who can play first base, right field and pitch. He started playing baseball in the sixth grade, a bit later than other players. After attending Gyeongnam Wondong Middle School and then Daegu Sangwon High School, Kang is batting 3-for-7 with 33 runs (87 at-bats), two home runs, 22 RBIs, 13 doubles, and a 1.003 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) this year. Prior to this tournament, he was criticized for his lack of long ball production, but he has grown into the role, with only one of his seven hits for the Cheongnyonggi being a single. “After his third year, he felt some pressure,” said Kim Seung-kwan, a former Samsung and Lotte player who leads Daegu Sangwon Go. “He used to play a style that required a lot of strength in his upper body, but as he improved, his long-hitting power also improved.” “He is a sincere and hardworking player. He’s also good-looking,” he laughed.
Looking back on his cycling hit in the first inning, Kang said, “I was congratulated by many people. “I was dumbfounded at first, but as time went on, it became more and more realized,” he said. “I think that controlling my physical condition and being confident at the plate leads to good results,” he said. “The team’s biggest goal is to win this tournament. If I can help the team with a good performance, I think the individual awards will follow.”
Daegu Sangwon Go advanced to the third round (Round of 16) after defeating Korea’s K-POP Go. Earlier in the day, Gyeonggi Commercial High School defeated Gyeongdong High School 8-2 to advance to the third round, while Woosin High School, Seoul High School, and Pohang Steel High School defeated Kaesong High School, Onyang BC, and Bundang BC, respectively, to advance to the third round.