“Let’s talk when you come.”
At a meeting with reporters at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Tuesday, LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop declined to comment when the story of veteran pitcher Kim Jin-seong (39). He said he would not mention Kim Jin-seong until he returned to the first team. The manager’s comment meant that there was no reason to rekindle the controversial protest situation.
Kim Jin-sung posted a handwritten apology through the agency “Growin Sports” on the 27th. It was six days after he expressed his dissatisfaction with the club through his SNS on the 22nd. Kim Jin-sung was virtually dismissed from the first-team entry on the 23rd.
In his apology, Kim Jin-sung said, “I’m sorry for causing a lot of concern to the club and the fans with my SNS post last time,” adding, “With my momentary misconception and judgment, I posted unnecessary posts on social media, causing great disappointment to the club, the coaching staff and the fans who have always supported me. I still like LG Twins and I also love the fans who always give me the best support. I will always reflect on myself and remember my gratitude during my career and show good performance on the mound.”
The beginning of the situation was a sentence Kim Jin-sung posted on social media on the 22nd. He posted a short message, “I was XX (expletive), who devoted himself to himself.” Kim Jin-sung took the mound in the eighth inning against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 21st and then went off the mound after ⅔ innings. There was no run, but he did not get a hold. When pitching coach Choi Sang-deok came to the mound with the ball after two outs, he looked embarrassed, and then scuffled for a while before returning to the dugout. He then expressed his dissatisfaction with SNS.
Yeom was aware that Kim Jin-sung posted an apology belatedly, but did not add any words. “I don’t know. I will tell you when I come back. If I have to talk about it now, only players will be agitated,” Yeom said. He also did not reveal when he plans to put Kim in the first team again.
Kim Jin-sung always expressed his gratitude to LG for saving him from retirement after the 2021 season. He did not hesitate to stand on the mound as much as he was grateful. He was responsible for 58 innings in 67 games in 2022, and 70 ⅓ innings in 80 games last year when LG won the combined championship. He has become an indispensable cornerstone in LG’s bullpen over the past two years, with tremendous performance of 11 wins, four saves, 33 holds, and 2.59 ERA. 업소알바
The same was true this year. He played in the same team with Yoo Young-chan throughout the season, maintaining the balance as the eldest brother. In May, he posted an impressive record of 13 consecutive scoreless games (14 ⅓ innings), proving that the veteran player is not dead.
However, his pace began to drop sharply in June. He showed very poor performance with 9.00 ERA in 12 games in June, and slightly improved in July, but had more runs than in eight games with 4.50 ERA. It is true that he tried to contribute by garnering seven holds during the past two months, when he had been sluggish.
Yeom and his team are also aware of the hard work that Kim has put into. Still, no player beats a team. It is all the more so in a team sport called baseball. If players fail to accept the team’s decision, it will be categorized as “out of power” as it is now. Veteran Kim Jin-sung must have realized this natural truth once again.
Kim Jin-sung must have realized that his efforts accumulated so far could go up in smoke due to a momentary mistake. Kim Jin-sung had more twists and turns than anyone else, as he was notified of his release three times. After graduating from Seongnam High School, he was nominated by the SK Wyverns (current SSG Landers) in 2004 but was released in 2006 without a chance to take the mound in the first team, and when he joined the Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom) in 2010 after receiving a tryout test, he was notified of his release without taking the mound in the first team. He wore his third professional uniform when he passed the tryout hosted by his new team NC Dinos in 2011, and he played in 470 games for nine seasons from 2013 to 2021, winning 32, 67 holds, 34 saves, 494 ⅔ innings, and an ERA of 4.57. And after the 2021 season, he was released again amid NC’s veteran cleanup stance. It was LG that saved Kim Jin-sung, who was on the verge of forced retirement in his late 30s.
Kim reportedly attended a farewell ceremony for Casey Kelly (released on the 21st) prepared by the LG team on the 26th. He posted an apology the very next day. It is speculated that Kim Jin-seong may have relaxed while talking with the LG players at the meeting. While the player has admitted his wrongdoings, it makes people wonder when Yeom will visit Kim again. Kim will be eligible to fill 10 days of expiration and join the first team starting on the 2nd of next month.
◆ The following is the full text of an apology letter written by Kim Jin-sung.
Hello, I’m Kim Jin Sung from LG Twins. I’m sorry for causing so much concern to the club and the fans with my last post on social media.
Over the past three years at LG Twins, I was able to achieve significant results thanks to the club and the coaching staff. I also think I threw the ball really happily on the mound thanks to the LG Twins fans who always gave me a lot of support and applause.
As I said earlier, my career with the LG Twins is only a grateful memory of my baseball life, and with my momentary misconception and judgment, I posted unnecessary posts on social media and was greatly disappointed by the club, the coaching staff, and the fans who always supported me.
I still like LG Twins and I also love the fans who always give me the best support. I will always reflect on myself and remember my gratitude during my career and show good performance on the mound.
Lastly, I hope many people don’t misunderstand with articles or videos about me that have been in the media. Once again, I’m sorry for causing concern to everyone.