This year, the KIA center outfield must be protected by Socrates Brito.
From the time Socrates joined KIA in the 2022 season, expectations were high as the second Roger Bernardina. His position is the same as center fielder, and he is a middle-distance hitter, and he has both defense and running bases in common. Because Bernardina performed so outstandingly in 2017-2018, he is still a player that brings back the nostalgia of KIA fans.
Socrates is naturally destined to be compared to Bernardina. He recorded a batting average of 0.311, 17 home runs, 77 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.848 in 127 games in the 2022 season. He is far from the league’s top level, but it was a good enough record to win a new contract. If he shows good results this season and stays at KIA next year, he can go beyond Bernardina and become the best foreign hitter of KIA ever.
If he shows more productivity in hitting, 헤라카지노 he has nothing more to wish for from KIA. Apparently, on July 2 last year, Incheon SSG Jeonseo Kim Gwang-hyun’s pitching fractured his nose bone, and he had a hiatus, and his productivity declined somewhat in the second half. He had a batting average of 0.332 with 11 homers and 46 RBIs in 76 games in the first half, but a batting average of 0.281 with 6 homers and 31 RBIs in 51 games in the second half.
The fact that KIA gave Socrates a new contract also projected the expectation that his productivity would increase further if he spent a full-time season without getting hurt. Also, KIA cannot be satisfied with simply entering the top 5 this season. Socrates has to do more, and I’m curious about the full-time report card.
Last season, insiders said Socrates was more suited to the corner outfield than the center outfield. Socrates’ center field defense is not weak. However, there were times when the batted ball judgment and next play were shaken. The defense is above average, but not the best in the league. It’s the same when you look at the 2nd stats.
Since batting is the biggest strength anyway, it is analyzed that a left or right fielder is more suitable than a center fielder to reduce the burden on defense and maximize hitting ability. However, it is difficult to realize. Na Seong-beom is holding out in right field. However, if you go to left field, Seok-Hwan Kim, Chang-Jin Lee, Jong-Wook Ko, and Woo-Sung Lee virtually lose their chances.
If Kim Ho-ryeong, the league’s strongest defender, significantly upgrades his batting ability and plays as the starting center fielder, there is no need to worry about this. However, Kim Ho-ryeong has no choice but to use it as a great defense. There is no better center fielder on the team at this point than Socrates. Choi Won-joon, who will return in June, has played as a center fielder in the past, but is suitable for a corner outfielder. After being discharged, if you take responsibility for one corner with Na Seong-beom, it is impossible for Socrates to move to the corner.
No big deal. However, it is true that in modern baseball, there are many advantages to getting when the main center fielder has extreme defensive power. Socrates just needs to show better attack power than those players. There is potential for that. Socrates takes the test to become a long-lived foreign hitter at KIA.