The news of Ryu Hyun-jin's LA Dodgers colleague and 'big league giant' Yasiel Puig joining the Kiwoom Heroes is heating up professional baseball.

And there are players who feel the heat directly.

This is Doosan Bears Heo Kyung-min.



Kiwoom club officially announced the signing of Puig today (9th).

The ransom is a net guarantee with no options, with the new foreign player cap of $1 million.

It is unusual for Kiwoom, which pursues cost-effectiveness, to offer a guarantee of 1 million dollars.

As all four foreign hitters failed in the last two seasons, they needed proven resources, which led to a hot investment.



Kiwoom general manager Koh Hyeong-wook said, "Since the upper limit was set, we had to appeal in a different area compared to other clubs." "I made and took the team introduction video and fans' support video myself. Our team has the best leagues such as Lee Jeong-hoo, Kim Hye-seong, and Ahn Woo-jin. He emphasized that there are players who boast of their skills, and that Park Byeong-ho, Kang Jeong-ho, and Kim Ha-seong have advanced to the big leagues."



Puig has proven his skills by accumulating 132 home runs and 415 RBIs over seven seasons in the big leagues, but his outrageous brutality and insincere training attitude are considered as his shortcomings.




The Kiwoom club also paid a lot of attention to this aspect.

General Manager Koh said, "We watched 4 winter league games in the Dominican Republic, and we chatted for over 3 hours while having a meal." He said, "I could see Puig different from before. Using the KBO League as a foothold, he is aiming to re-enter the big leagues. But if it causes problems again, won't the evaluation get worse? I think he'll be more concerned about it."




Puig made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013.

He left a strong impression from the first season with his huge slugging power and strong shoulders, and as he got close to Ryu Hyun-jin, he gained a lot of popularity from domestic fans.

Another relationship with the KBO League players was also known through a single photo.

Samsung Kim Sang-soo revealed to reporters a photo he took while participating in the 2008 World Youth Baseball Championship in Edmonton, Canada, showing Kyung-min Heo holding hands with Puig.



As Puig's tremendous performance was transmitted through TV, domestic players also recalled memories of that time.

In an interview with a media outlet, Kyung-min Heo said, "Puig's hand was really big. I was surprised." He said, "I heard that they were talking about meeting in the United States, but that seems difficult. (Laughs) If there is a chance next time, I want to meet you again.”




The joke has become a reality.

Heo Kyung-min, who suddenly became a prophet, was startled by the news of Puig's trip to Korea.

Heo Kyung-min, who was contacted on the 9th, smiled, saying, "I'm getting a lot of calls from reporters," and said, "After reading the article about Puig's possibility to go to Korea, I thought, 'Oh no. I had a thought,” he said.

He continued, "It was a joke that we asked to meet in 10 years, but I didn't know that it would become a reality after 7 years. I didn't know that we would meet like this (laughs). I want to meet you soon. added.

He also declared war, saying, "I will greet you, but I will not watch the game."



Puig's trip to Korea, which caused a sensation from the first day of joining Kiwoom, is expected to help the box office of professional baseball, which has recently suffered a crisis due to a decline in popularity.