As expected, the wind blew. Kiwoom Heroes, who finished runner-up in the Korean Series last year, completed an annual salary contract for the 2023 season.On the afternoon of the 20th, Kiwoom announced that it had completed an annual salary contract with all 51 people eligible for annual salary contracts for the 2023 season (excluding rookies, fostering, military retention, free agents, and foreign players). A total of 11 people, including 5 pitchers and 6 fielders, have annual salaries worth billions of dollars.
Lee Jung-hoo, ahead of the US stage challenge, hit the jackpot
As expected, the player who stands out the most is Lee Jung-hoo. Lee Jung-hoo, who swept awards ceremonies last season, including 5 batting crowns, regular season MVP, and Golden Glove outfielder award, signed an annual salary contract of 1.1 billion won, an increase of 350 million won (46.7%) from last year’s annual salary of 760 million won. .
Lee Jung-hoo this year is the first time in the history of the KBO League that he recorded an annual salary of more than 1 billion won with a single-year contract, excluding special cases such as FA (free agent), multi-year contracts, and returning to overseas clubs. Along with this, the record for the highest annual salary in the 7th year of the KBO League was also confirmed. The highest annual salary for the previous 7 years was Kim Ha-seong in 2020 (Kiwoom at the time, 550 million won).
Lee Jeong-hoo received an annual salary of 230 million won in the 2019 season, an annual salary of 390 million won in the 2020 season, an annual salary of 550 million won in the 2021 season, and an annual salary of 750 million won last season, setting the record for the highest annual salary in the 3rd to 6th years of the KBO League. also possess
Last year, Lee Jeong-hoo recorded 193 hits in 553 at bats in 142 regular season games, a batting average of 0.349, 23 homers, 113 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.996. Compared to the 2021 season, only the batting average and on-base percentage decreased slightly, but most of the batting indicators showed an upward trend.Lee Jung-hoo, who is challenging to advance to the Major League (MLB) after this season, was recently appointed as the captain of the Kiwoom team for the 2023 season. Because of his outstanding performance, he was able to receive an annual salary of over 1 billion won, but it also contains the club’s desire to show a responsible figure as a captain.
A large number of players who were active in fall baseball also raised
The players who led Kiwoom’s 파라오카지노 entry into the Korean Series also got satisfactory results in this salary negotiation. Pitcher Ahn Woo-jin, who recorded the highest rate of increase in salary negotiations, is one of them. Last year, the annual salary of 150 million won was increased by 200 million won (133.3%) to 350 million won.
Veteran catcher Lee Ji-young signed for 500 million won, up 200 million won (66.7%) from the previous year, with the free agency contract ending at the end of last season. Having worn the Taegeuk mark for the first time since his professional debut, he is in charge of the homeroom of Yang Eui-ui (Doosan Bears) and the national team at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March this year.
Left-hander Kim Jae-woong, who fought hard in the postseason, signed a contract for 220 million won, an increase of 116 million won (111.5%). Last year, Kiwoom poured everything on the mound to the extent of appearing in 9 out of 15 postseason games.
Infielder Kim Hye-seong, who played a pivotal role in the center line, received an increase of 100 million won (31.2%) to 420 million won. Salary negotiations are over. Infielder Kim Hui-jip, who spent the second season after his professional debut, signed a contract for 74 million won, an increase of 35 million won (89.7%).
After successfully negotiating the salary, the Kiwoom team will hold spring camp for the 2023 season in Arizona, USA. Kiwoom, who prepared for the season in Goheung and Gangjin in Jeollanam-do for the past two years while unable to go abroad due to the aftermath of Corona 19, will hold a spring camp overseas in three years.