In this file photo from May 16, 2024, Kim Whee-jip of the Kiwoom Heroes hits an RBI single against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The NC Dinos on Thursday acquired shortstop Kim Whee-jip from the Kiwoom Heroes in exchange for two picks at this year’s South Korean baseball draft.
The Dinos said they sent their first round and third round choices at the upcoming Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) draft to the Heroes to get Kim, a 22-year-old shortstop selected ninth overall at the 2020 draft.
Kim has mostly played shortstop, but has also logged time at second base and third base. The right-handed hitting Kim has also flashed some power potential recently, with 22 doubles and eight home runs in 110 games last year, and nine doubles and five home runs in 51 games this year.
“Kim Whee-jip is an infielder with some power tools and has a ton of experience at a young age,” Dinos general manager Lim Sun-nam said. “He will add depth to our lineup thanks to his extra-base power, and I think there is still untapped potential for him at the plate. And since he can play second base, shortstop and third base, he will help our infield defense immensely.”
The Dinos already have a full-time shortstop in Kim Ju-won, a switch-hitting 21-year-old selected three spots ahead of Kim Whee-jip at the 2020 draft. They both played for the national team at the under-24 Asia Professional Baseball Championship in Tokyo last November.
Kim Ju-won has hit for more power than his now-new teammate, and his defense has taken major strides since last fall, when he helped South Korea win the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Kim Whee-jip, whose defense at shortstop has been inconsistent at best, may slide over to third base on his new team.
According to the Heroes, the Dinos approached them first about a potential trade for Kim, and they agreed to do it to help the future of both the club and the player.
“With our extra draft picks, we will get our hands on more future assets, and Kim Whee-jip will get a fresh start and have a chance to grow even further,” the Heroes said. “We expect our young and promising infielders to push themselves even harder and develop into stars that can carry this club in the future.”
After finishing in last place in 2023, the Heroes will have the first overall pick at this year’s draft, and now have the seventh overall pick from the Dinos after this trade.
The Heroes will pick three times in the third round, with two of those picks having been acquired in trades.
With Kim Whee-jip gone, the Heroes will likely give their rookie shortstop Lee Jae-sang a long look at the position. The 19-year-old missed a month of action earlier this season with a broken right ring finger, but the Heroes are said to be enamored with both Lee’s defense and offense.
(Yonhap)
