The Kiwoom Heroes announced a surprising news ahead of the match against the Gwangju KIA Tigers on June 29, 2023. It was a two-plus one-year non-FA multi-year contract with veteran infielder Lee Won-seok (39). It was a two-year guarantee contract from 2024 to this year, and automatically extended to the 2026 season if the option is met.안전놀이터

Lee previously wore the Kiwoom uniform in a trade with Kim Tae-hoon on Apr. 27. In addition, the team also received a third-round pick from the Samsung Lions for the 2024 Rookie Draft. The team acquired right-hander Lee Woo-hyun (20), but the key is Lee.

Kiwoom made a drastic choice to sign an extension contract about two months after recruiting Lee Won-seok. At the time, General Manager Ko Hyung-wook expected Lee Won-seok to fit well in the dugout with older juniors and strengthen the team's chemistry with abundant communication.

As a result, it has not been possible to clearly verify this part over the past two years. Crucially, he has been mired in slump in hitting after moving to Kiwoom. He had a batting average of 0.246 in 89 games in 2023 with two homers and 30 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.624 in 39 games in 2024 with a batting average of 0.220 with eight RBIs and five runs scored and an OPS of 0.594.

He failed to show his presence due to the combination of sluggishness and minor injuries. Therefore, Lee Won-seok first needs to raise his presence and value in the team. In the end, he needs to turn something around in his position, third base and first base. Song Sung-moon is on the third base, and the first base does not have a clear main player at this point.

Since joining Kiwoom, he has lost control of himself, and his position has become vague as young players have rushed up. Still, Kiwoom called Lee Won-seok to its spring camp for the first team once again. Anyway, since he is a long-term contractor, we cannot give him a chance.

Of course, it is up to the player to make the opportunity his own. This is what coach Hong Won-ki always emphasizes. If he fails to rebound this season, he may not be able to apply the 2026 option. For Lee Won-seok, the picture of his last baseball life can be different.

Starting with Lee Won-seok, Kiwoom signed a two-plus-one-year, 1.2 billion won contract with Choi Joo-hwan in November 2024, and a six-year, non-FA multi-year contract with Kim Jae-hyun on November 22, 2024. Although the scale was not large based on the total amount, it was a convincing contract for the players and themselves.