Oh Ji-hwan attended the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Media Day held at Lotte Hotel Seoul Sogong-dong on the 22nd as a representative player of LG.
After the media day, Oh Ji-hwan met with reporters.
Starting this year, various changes will take place in the KBO league. In addition to expanding the base size, an automatic ball judgment system (ABS) will be introduced, and extreme defensive shifts will be banned. From now on, a defense team will have to have at least four players located in the infield, and two infielders will have to be located on the sides divided into two vertically based on the second base. If infielders are not properly aligned when pitching, the offensive team can choose automatic ball or strike result.
Oh Ji-hwan said, "I am grateful (defensive shift is prohibited). With the defensive shift gone, I will reveal my capabilities rather than becoming more comfortable. Depending on the scope and location, I can expand (defensive range) depending on my capabilities."
He also showed a strong understanding of the rules. "Many teams do not know well (with the shift limit) until the moment when the ball is thrown. When the ball leaves, the ball can go over the base. Many people are not sure about that. That's why there are many people who are standing in their seats, but I was fully aware of that. There were times when the ball moved and when it fell (from the pitcher's hand) over the base, it fell over," Oh Ji-hwan said.
When asked if he could be subject to video review, he said, "You have to catch a ball to be judged. So I only have to check the moment the ball left," showing that he is clearly familiar with the rules.
Regarding ABS, he said, "I think it's constant, but I felt that the high strike zone is different (from the existing strike zone). I got caught in the high strike zone three times. From the point I thought it was high, it became three strikes," adding, "I'm not a person with a high batting average anyway, so I thought I should play aggressively."
Meanwhile, Oh Ji-hwan expressed regret over ABS, saying, "I think I lost the charm of baseball in principle. I think I lost my innocence."
Oh Ji-hwan said, "Fighting with referees can also lead to communication in the stadium. Fans will likely receive positive responses (due to reduced misjudgment). However, the good thing about ABS was that time was shortened. The time to focus was shortened quickly."
He added, "I think (baseball's) innocence has been lost."