Doosan Bears Closer Kim Taek-yeon speaks after winning the 2024 Korea Baseball Organization Rookie of the Year award during the awards ceremony at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Nov. 26. Yonhap
Doosan Bears closer Kim Taek-yeon, crowned the 2024 Rookie of the Year in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Tuesday, made headlines this spring even before pitching in his first regular-season game in Korea, as he drew praise from a manager who would go on to win the 2024 World Series title.
Some three months before his 19th birthday, Kim was named to the Korean national team that would take on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in exhibition games in Seoul, before the two major league teams played a historic two-game series to begin the 2024 big league season here.
Kim took the mound against the Dodgers on March 18 and struck out the only two batters he faced, two-time Silver Slugger winner Teoscar Hernandez and then James Outman, with a four-seam fastball.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had particularly high praise for Kim after the game.
"I was talking to James Outman, and he said that the ball just had tremendous life to it and he pitches at the top of the zone," Roberts said of Kim, the No. 2 overall pick at last year's KBO draft. "I think he was 91 (in miles per hour), but it played up to 95, 96."
Kim made his KBO debut five days later but had a harder time against the hitters from his home league than those from the majors. Against the NC Dinos, Kim allowed two hits, walked two batters and hit another one in one inning of work, while allowing two earned runs. Kim spent the early days of April in the minor league.
Fortunately for the Bears, Kim soon righted the ship. After rejoining the Bears on April 9, Kim allowed just two earned runs across 9 1/3 innings that month and did not give up a run in 11 of his 13 outings in May.
Doosan Bears Closer Kim Taek-yeon throws the ball during the game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Nov. 6. Yonhap
Kim picked up his first career save on May 21 and became the Bears' new closer in June. He recorded five saves that month, while allowing only one run in 10 2/3 innings and striking out 12.
Kim collected five more saves in July and held opponents to a run across 10 innings. By that time, the Rookie of the Year award appeared to be his to lose.
Following his shaky season debut, Kim allowed two or more runs in a game just twice the rest of the season. It translated to a runaway win for the top rookie prize, as Kim earned 93 out of 101 votes cast by the media.
Kim's season was defined by his heavy fastball that Roberts was effusive about, a pitch that hitters swore all season was faster than the number popping on the radar gun. Kim also made a name for himself with his stoic, mature presence on the mound that belied his age. Bears manager Lee Seung-yuop often marveled at Kim's uncanny ability to stay calm and focused during high-stress situations and said Kim had the potential to develop into one of the greatest closers in KBO history.
That's some heady stuff for someone who hasn't even thrown 100 innings as a pro. And his so-so performance at the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament earlier this month in Tapei showed Kim remains a work in progress.
But the top rookie award on Tuesday served as validation of preseason hype for the teenager, whose fearless approach should suit him well for a long and prosperous career. (Yonhap)