The 97th-ranked lower rounder instantly earned 200 million won a year, not even 100 million. The main character is Moon Sung-joo (27), an outfielder who is famous for being more sincere than anyone else in the LG Twins.
Moon Sung-joo, a graduate of Pohang Seocho-Pohang Steel Middle School-Gyeongbuk High School-Gangneung Yeongdong University, joined the 2018 rookie draft with the LG Twins' 97th overall pick in the second 10th round.
In the 2018 season, the first year he joined the Futures League, he had one hit, one run, and one strikeout from three times at bat in five games. However, he displayed remarkable performance in the Futures League. In the 2018 Futures League, he had a batting average of 0.352 (101 hits from 287 times at bat), 21 doubles, one triple, four homers, 31 RBIs, 55 runs, and three steals (three failures), and posted a slugging percentage of 0.474 with balls, 26 strikeouts, and a slugging percentage of 0.428 that fit nine bodies with 29 walks.
After joining the military, Moon returned to the KBO League in the 2021 season. His annual salary in 2021 was 31 million won. He played in 31 games that year, recording a batting average of 0.228 (18 hits in 79 times at bat), one homer, 10 RBIs, 11 runs scored, and 15 strikeouts with seven walks. After the season ended, Moon's annual salary increased by 1.1 million won to 42 million won.
And in the 2022 season, Moon has made a proper leap forward. He played 106 games with a batting average of 0.303 (999 hits in 327) with 15 doubles, three triples, six homers, 41 RBIs, 55 runs, nine steals, 51 walks, 36 strikeouts, and a .422 on-base plus slugging percentage. He made no mistake at all. His annual salary fell to 95 million won, 5 million won short of 100 million won. The increase was 53 million won, an increase of a whopping 126 percent.
In the 2023 season, Moon also played a significant role as a backup starting pitcher to support Kim Hyun-soo, Hong Chang-ki, and Park Hae-min. In the 2023 season, Moon played 136 games, the most since his debut, posting a batting average of 0.294, two homers, 57 RBIs, 77 runs, and 24 steals, and a slugging percentage of 0.372. Consequently, ahead of the 2024 season, Moon signed an annual contract worth 200 million won, up 105 million won (approx. The increase rate was 110.5 percent. Notably, he played his part in the first ever Korean Series by posting a batting average of 0.353 (6 hits in 17 times at bat), a triple, three RBIs, one base, and four walks.
Moon's biggest strength is his sincerity. He is also a player who comes to the stadium earlier than anyone else and stays later than anyone else to swing his bat. When asked about his juniors during an interview with reporters last summer of 2022, Kim repeatedly stressed that he is still lazy. He meant that he is usually recognized by his seniors. On top of that, Moon has been loved by many LG fans as he sprinted to first base every time since his hit. What kind of performance will Moon perform in the 2024 season? As LG fans' expectations are rising just as high as the price of his money has risen.