The Doosan Bears is not a place to grow up and soothe."

Doosan Bears outfielder Kim Jae-hwan is a player who is recognized for his unchanging work ethic since he was a rookie. Kim Jae-hwan is already in the position of the second oldest veteran after teammate Yang Eui-ji. The next generation of protagonists that Doosan is looking for in the trend of generational change also need Kim Jae-hwan's natural sincerity. 안전놀이터

Kim Jae-hwan played in 136 games in the 2024 season and posted a batting average of 0.283, 134 hits, 29 homers, 92 RBIs, 0.368 on-base percentage and 0.525 slugging percentage. It was the result of the season, which was close to 30 homers in the first season since the 2020 season (30 homers). 

Kim Jae-hwan, who succeeded in improving the overall batting index and rebounding in the number of home runs, stressed that he is not conscious of home runs. 

Kim Jae-hwan met with reporters before leaving the Sydney Spring Camp in Australia on the 24th and said, "Actually, I didn't think about the number of home runs. It's the same this year. It's good to get anything back, so I just want it to be a good season for me, rather than the number of home runs." 

Doosan's Kim Jae-hwan hits an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in the "2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" match between the Samsung Lions and the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th. Expots News DB

After the end of the 2021 season, Kim Jae-hwan signed his first FA stamp for a total of 11.5 billion won for four years. Kim Jae-hwan, who is already in the final year of his FA contract, has to run toward the second FA. 

Kim Jae-hwan said, "I don't really recognize whether this is the last year of the contract. People around me say this year is important, but I don't really get a sense of it," adding, "But what I can be proud of is that I have never prepared harder for any year and prepared loosely for any year. I always prepared the same. However, it is a positive side that I have improved in the mental aspect of being able to do better." 

Doosan is undergoing a generational change in the fielders. Infielder Kim Jae-ho's retirement from active duty and Huh Kyung-min's transfer to KT Wiz accelerated the pace. In Doosan's fielders, captains Yang Eui-ji, Kim Jae-hwan, and Jung Soo-bin and Yang Suk-hwan remained veteran players. 

Kim Jae-hwan said, "Everyone keeps saying that the team has become younger. I think the training atmosphere will be a little more fun," but added, "But everyone has to wake up and do well. Everyone will feel a strong sense of responsibility, so you will be able to do well enough this year." 

Kim Jae-hwan is a veteran player who experienced his team's heyday in the 2010s. After years of being unknown, Kim did not miss the opportunity to become the cleanup hitter who suddenly visited him in 2016. He clearly was not a player who grew up like a houseplants in a greenhouse. 

"The Doosan Bears itself is not a place to nurture and appease young players," Kim Jae-hwan said. "If you are a professional player, you have all the goals of playing baseball better and going to the Korean Series and winning it. As a professional player, I want you to focus on that without thinking about anything else."