Kim Kwang-hyun blamed SSG Landers for failing to advance to the postseason in 2024, saying, "It's my responsibility."안전놀이터

He also diagnosed that the starting lineup, including himself, needs to take a leap in order for the team to rebound in 2025.

First of all, he saw hope in the spring camp. "Our bullpen was good last year as well. We still have strength in our batting lineup," Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport after returning to Korea after SSG spring camp in Virovich, Florida, and Okinawa, Japan. "If the starting pitcher holds out to a certain extent, we will get good results."

Last year, SSG finished the regular season tied for fifth place, and lost to kt wiz in the fifth place final and failed to make the fall stage.

What was most regrettable was poor performance by the team's starting pitchers. The average earned run average (ERA) of the SSG players was 5.26, the lowest among the 10 teams.

Kim Kwang-hyun, the star player of SSG and the leading left-handed pitcher of Korean baseball, also received an unqualified report card for his reputation, with a 12-10 record and a 4.93 ERA. For Kim, 2024 was a "year that really didn't work out, even though I tried hard."

In order to make another leap forward in 2025, Kim Kwang-hyun decided to look back on 2024 with a cool head and work harder.

Kim Kwang-hyun, who left for Okinawa, Japan, on January 2nd with his SSG juniors and returned home only on January 21st, just before leaving the spring camp, also played the spring camp passionately.

As SSG captain from this year, the sense of responsibility has grown.

Kim Kwang-hyun, who wished for the "growth of young SSG pitchers," took care of his juniors more fatly in this camp.

"Song Young-jin and Jeong Dong-yoon have really improved," Kim said. "Park Jong-hoon also played well in the spring camp," he said. "SSG's starting team will definitely get better."

It is bad news that foreign pitcher Mitch White is unable to take the mound at the beginning of the season due to a thigh injury.

Kim Kwang-hyun said, "White was injured, so fourth starter Moon Seung-won came up, and the fifth starting candidates should also cheer up," adding, "I will help my teammates to raise their sense of play well in the exhibition game."

Kim Kwang-hyun, who played in the U.S. Major League for two seasons (2020-2021), signed a four-year, non-free agent multi-year contract worth 15.1 billion won (approx. This is the last year of his multi-year contract.

Kim Kwang-hyun, who will receive 3 billion won in 2025, became the KBO League's annual salary king in the 2025 season.

"Individual performance is important, but team performance comes first," Kim Kwang-hyun said. "The captain's role is to help the players perform well with the coach and coach," and chanted "Team First" by saying, "We can think about contract issues after the season is over."

Ace Kim Kwang-hyun's performance is directly related to the team's performance. White's departure from injury has made him more likely to take the mound for the second time in the opening or opening two consecutive games.

Kim will take the mound for two exhibition games for final inspection. "I worked out well in the spring camp," Kim said. "The team is in good mood, and my teammates have prepared well for the season. Please look forward to it."