“I hope he becomes a bigger player beyond my record.”
Hanwha Eagles and Police Baseball Team former manager Yoo Seung-an gave wholehearted support to Heo In-seo, who continued Hanwha’s ’20-home run catcher’ line for the first time in 37 years. It contained a senior’s sincere wish that he grow into a catcher representing the KBO League beyond his own record.
Heo In-seo, in an away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on the 25th of last month, stepped up as the leadoff batter in the sixth inning with the score 2-8 and smashed a solo home run to left-center off NC starter Koo Chang-mo.
In a disadvantageous 1B-2S count, he attacked a 124 km curveball on the fourth pitch and converted it into his 20th home run of the season. With this, Heo In-seo reached the 20-home run mark in a single season as a Hanwha catcher for the first time in 37 years since Yoo Seung-an in 1989. Adding one more homer would put him shoulder to shoulder with Yoo Seung-an’s record of 21 home runs.
Former manager Yoo Seung-an, who made his name as an attack-minded catcher during his playing days, also welcomed his junior’s record march.
On the 30th of last month, Yoo Seung-an posted on his Facebook, “An attack-minded catcher has appeared at Hanwha. He is being evaluated as the most outstanding player since Yoo Seung-an,” and added, “I am waiting. I hope Heo In-seo exceeds 21 home runs and hits 22, 23.”
He felt much more anticipation than regret about his 37-year-old record being broken.
He said, “It is very exciting when someone breaks a record that has continued for 30 or 40 years. It motivates the individual player and is a very anticipated record for Hanwha fans.”
He added, “Some may question whether merely 21 home runs can be called a new record, but to dominate the KBO League beyond the team, you must first surpass this record,” and said, “He is a player with a bright future. I hope he grows into a player who far exceeds 21 home runs and hits 40 or 50 in the future.”
After retiring as a player, Yoo Seung-an worked as a coach and watched and raised numerous catchers. For that reason, he is watching Heo In-seo’s growth with even greater interest.
Yoo Seung-an said, “As a coach after retiring, I have raised many catchers, but I am also very interested in Heo In-seo’s home runs,” and said, “Among the catchers I coached, Yang Eui-ji (Doosan Bears) is performing the best. There are many catchers such as Choi Jae-hun (Hanwha) and Jang Sung-woo (KT Wiz), but I think Yang Eui-ji is the best among them.”
Yang Eui-ji, who has won the Golden Glove in the catcher category nine times overall, is the best catcher Yoo Seung-an names. At the same time, he is the benchmark Heo In-seo hopes to surpass someday.
Yoo Seung-an said, “Yang Eui-ji’s characteristic is that his expressions or patterns never reveal what he is thinking or what pitch he wants,” and expressed confidence, “I am certain that Heo In-seo, who was chosen by the masterful Kim Kyung-moon and is growing as the starting catcher at Hanwha, has the potential to develop into a catcher who surpasses Yang Eui-ji. I want to continue to send more interest and support going forward.”
Heo In-seo is also considered a strong candidate for rookie of the year this season. Catchers winning rookie of the year in the KBO League happened only three times: Kim Dong-soo in 1990, Hong Sung-heun in 1999, and Yang Eui-ji in 2010. If Heo In-seo wins the honor, he would be the first catcher rookie of the year in 16 years since Yang Eui-ji.
Kim Min-jun, who is part of the SSG Landers’ starting rotation, is competing with a 7-3 record and a 3.65 ERA in 15 games, but the symbolism of being a ’20-home run catcher’ is Heo In-seo’s powerful asset.
The owner of the record that has stood for 37 years is now waiting for his name to be erased. Yoo Seung-an’s wish is that he not stop at 21 home runs but go beyond 22 and 23 to reach higher ground.
And the ultimate destination Yoo Seung-an expects of Heo In-seo is not simply ‘Hanwha’s greatest attack-minded catcher’ in history. It is to grow into a catcher who represents the KBO League, surpassing Yang Eui-ji.
Meanwhile, after stepping down from the presidency of the Korea Little League Federation, Yoo Seung-an operates a cafe and a pension in Gyeryong, Chungnam.
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