A big hit, a finger raised with his right arm. A roar of joy rang out as the ball went over the fence and hit the outfield wall.
Kia Tigers catcher Shin Beom-soo, 25, hit his first first-team home run in 1485 days. Shin Bum-soo hit a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning with his team leading 3-0 against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on May 15. On a full count against Kiwoom starter Chung Chan-heon, Shin hit a 138-kilometer pitch on a high, outside pitch. The pitch rose high enough to suggest a home run, and Shin, who had been watching nervously, couldn’t hide his joy as he pumped his right fist in the air after seeing the ball hit the outer wall of the Gocheok Dome and fall to the ground.
No one was happier than the KIA dugout. KIA, which had lost seven one-run games this month, suffered back-to-back one-run losses against the Gocheok Kiwoom on March 13-14. The mood in the locker room before the game was somber. Even after scoring three runs in the top of the second inning on Lee Chang-jin’s double and Park Chan-ho’s sacrifice fly, the KIA dugout became a festive atmosphere after Shin Beom-soo’s two-run blast. Not only the players, but also the coaches gave a thumbs up and showed their joy.먹튀검증
Shin Beom-soo, who started in the Futures (second team) instead of the opening lineup behind Han Seung-taek Joo Hyo-sang, made his first team debut on March 14. Initially, he was expected to be Han’s backup, but he gradually established himself by showing not only excellent batting concentration but also stability in defense. On May 23 against the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles, after hitting a home run, Shin raised his right hand in a gesture that was ruled foul, then hit a ground ball and made a head-first slide at first base. Shin said at the time, “My coach told me not to do it (sliding), but at that moment, I felt like I had to live. I was in the habit of always running full speed to first base, so I slid without realizing it,” he said, adding, “I’m not young anymore. I know that if I don’t perform well in the first team, I’ll regress someday. I’m desperately trying to play baseball right now. I don’t want to miss this opportunity that I have now.”
Recently, Shin’s value to the team has increased. With Han Seung-taek sidelined for the remainder of the first half with a side injury, the No. 1 catcher role became inevitable. As the first month passed, opponent analysis became more intense, and results at the plate were hard to come by. “He hasn’t had good results in the offense, but he’s doing a good job with his swing,” said KIA manager Kim Jong-guk. “I thought he would have trouble with pitching leads and breathing, but he adapted quickly and is getting there. He is also doing a good job on defense.” That’s why Shin, armed with eagerness, couldn’t help but look at the arch he drew with satisfaction.
