Kim Taek-yeon (aged 20, Doosan Bears) hit the jackpot in their first annual salary negotiations with the club last month. The 19-year-old rookie who started the first season with an annual salary of 30 million won signed a contract with an annual salary of 140 million won on the back of his outstanding performance.스포츠토토
This was the highest annual salary tie for a high school graduate in his second year in the professional baseball league. Ha Jae-hoon (SSG Landers) earned the highest salary in his second year in the KBO league, which was 150 million won (10,800 U.S. dollars), but he was not a high school graduate rookie, but a second-hand rookie who had already tasted professional baseball overseas.
Kim Taek-yeon recorded an annual salary increase of 366.7% (110 million won), setting a new record for the highest increase in the Bears franchise in 42 years. The previous record was 300% of Kim Jae-hwan, who rose to Jamsil's big guns in 2017, and Kim Jae-hwan's annual salary jumped from 50 million won to 200 million won at the time. Kim Taek-yeon made a new club history with a whopping 366.7% for the first time in eight years.
Kim Taek-yeon, who recently contacted OSEN, said, "Thank you so much to Doosan for giving me more (annual salary) than I thought. I feel great," adding, "Now that I am receiving more salary this year than the minimum salary, I think I should do better with more responsibility."
He is also steadily progressing off-season training to meet the expectations of his team and fans. "I am focusing on individual sports," Kim said. "I am exercising at Jamsil Baseball Stadium and going to a training center in Incheon to get fit. I threw a lot of balls last year to focus on recovery," he said. "Fortunately, I have no problem with medical science. I am playing catch ball as well."
When asked if he had any plans to prepare for the spring camp overseas like other players, he said, "I originally planned to go overseas during the inactive period, but I thought I shouldn't because I threw too many balls. My team also said it would be too much for me. If I have a chance, I would like to try individual sports overseas next year."
Kim's second-year goal is to continue last year's momentum without the second-year jinx that is commonly experienced. "I finished my debut season well last year without getting hurt while receiving a lot of support from my fans, but I will prepare well to overcome even if it is difficult because there is a saying that it is a jinx in my second year. I want to make a good result this year without getting hurt for a year," he said.
"Thank you Doosan fans for your support and love. We will prepare well to make a happy season by showing good performances this year as well. I can't wait to see you in the season," he said, taking care of Bears fans.
After graduating from Incheon High School, Kim was named the second in the first round of Doosan`s rookie draft in 2024. Upon joining the team, he trained in Sydney, Australia and Miyazaki spring camps in Japan, and was named spring camp MVP, opening a splendid debut season.
Before the opening of the 2024 season, Kim joined the Team Korea entry at the invitation of Ryu Joong-il. He also pitched perfect pitching with two strikeouts and no runs in ⅔ innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the strongest team in the Major League. He displayed impressive pitching by striking out Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman in succession with 93 miles (149 kilometers) of four-seam fastballs, surprising the Korean, U.S. and Japanese baseball community. The Dodgers' local media praised him as a "Dodge player already."
After adapting quickly to the first team, Kim took charge of finishing the game during the first half of the season. He was invited to the All-Star Game by guarding the back door, and continued his momentum in the second half of the season, making his debut with a successful ERA of 2.08 with three wins, two losses and 19 saves in 60 games. Playing 65 innings alone, he contributed greatly to Doosan's ranking in the regular season. He made his autumn baseball debut in the second game of the wild card game, and showed off his strong performance in big games by allowing two hits, no outs, and two strikeouts in two ⅓ innings.
It wasn't just a good record. He became the first KBO league rookie to hit a flawless inning (three strikeouts, at least one inning) against the Suwon KT Wiz on July 11, and became the youngest player to save 10 times (19 years, one month and 20 days) in the KBO league against the Kiwoom Heroes on July 23.
Thanks to this, Kim Taek-yeon was honored with the Rookie of the Year award, which can only be received once in her life at the KBO Awards.