Kim Tae-geun (27, Doosan Bears) was selected by Doosan in the fifth round (49th overall) of the 2019 Korean Baseball Organization 메이저사이트 (KBO) Rookie Draft after graduating from Bae Myung-Go and Kunkuk University.
Kim’s best attribute is his quick feet, as he can run the 100 meters in 11 seconds.
After appearing in nine games in his rookie year and recording one stolen base and two runs scored, he joined the Merchant Marine in 2020. After he was discharged from the military, he began to receive praise for his hitting. In 2021, he appeared in 78 games for the Sangsang, hitting .325 with a triple.
“Before I enlisted, I was only focused on running and hitting the ball. I thought a lot about how to turn my swing at the plate. I practiced a lot to swing and run perfectly,” he explained.
Injuries slowed him down, though, as he showed promise in spring training. After missing the start of the season with an adductor muscle injury, he didn’t make his first appearance with the first team until late July.
On July 26, 2022, he was activated to the first team and started in the middle of the order as the No. 9 hitter. In his first start, he recorded his first hit and first RBI in his first at-bat, hitting a timely double in his first at-bat.
The momentum carried him into the starting lineup on the 27th, where he went 1-for-3 with a double, a home run, and a walk. His performance at the plate seemed to pave the way for the main roster, but an unexpected injury struck late in the game.
Kim complained of ankle pain while fielding in the eighth inning. A medical examination revealed a ruptured Achilles tendon, and he underwent surgery immediately.
After a long rehabilitation, he started playing in the Futures League in mid-May. In 30 games, he went 2-for-8 with one home run, four doubles, and 12 RBIs, and on May 19, he joined first-team training to prepare for his call-up.
Kim will be designated for assignment in time for a three-game series against the Gwangju Kia Tigers. Doosan removed outfielder Yang Chan-yeol from the first team roster on April 18. They also designated pitcher Lee Byung-heon for assignment on the 16th, and on the 20th, they added Raul Alcantara to the roster for the first game of the second half against KIA on the 21st.
Meanwhile, Kim In-tae, who injured his shoulder in a collision with a fielder while running the bases against the KIA in Gwangju in April, has begun training. Lee said, “There is no report on Kim In-tae yet. He’s doing some light tee-batting, but he still needs to pick up the pace. He is a very sincere player. He’s been training and running. If his shoulder gets better, he will be able to increase the intensity a little more.”