LG Twins pitcher Son Joo-young (27) smiled with his gloves on. He showed off his gloves to his teammates as if he were a child. SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun (37) gave Son a glove. 

Son Joo-young met Kim Kwang-hyun, who was training at the weight training center at Kinozha Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on the 4th. LG and SSG were scheduled to play an exhibition match on the same day, but it was canceled due to rain. 메이저놀이터

Son mustered up his courage and approached Kim Kwang-hyun, bowing down. "I met my senior at the stadium, but it was my first time to have a conversation. I couldn't approach him because I was an unknown player," he said. "As soon as I saw Kim Kwang-hyun this time, I started to smile." 

About 30 minutes after the shooting, Kim Kwang-hyun visited Son Joo-young and handed him his glove. It was a glove with Kim Kwang-hyun's number 29. Kim Kwang-hyun gave a "surprise gift" because he was proud of Son Joo-young. Son said, "It is a moment I have dreamed of since 2008. Dreams come true. It is the best day of my life." 

His role model is Kim Kwang-hyun, the left-hander of the national team. He copied Kim Kwang-hyun's pitching form from an early age. He even saved a photo of Kim Kwang-hyun's pitching on the background screen of his mobile phone. Son Joo-young's jersey number "29" is an imitation of Kim Kwang-hyun.

Son Joo-young also did not miss his senior's pitching game from 2020 to 2021, when Kim Kwang-hyun played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the U.S. Major League Baseball. I watched the broadcast even when I woke up at dawn. "I already mentioned you as my idol through many interviews. (Kim Kwang-hyun) seemed to know this," Son said.

"I couldn't copy Kim Kwang-hyun's pitching form because my body was not flexible," Son said with a smile. Nevertheless, he did not miss the opportunity to meet Kim Kwang-hyun and asked him how to take care of his body.

Son is gradually following the path of a long-distance senior. In 2024, Son took the mound in a total of 28 games and posted an ERA of 9 wins, 10 losses and one hold with an ERA of 3.79. He had the second lowest ERA among Korean pitchers after Won Tae-in (3.66). After joining the team in 2017 (second overall pick in the second round) and posting a career average of 2-6 losses and an ERA of 6.99 until 2023, he clearly removed the tag of promising players last year. 

"I will succeed Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles), Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers), and Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers)," LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said of Son. Son's four-seam fastball per minute (RPM) was measured to be over 2,600. His ball power is already at the highest level in the KBO league. 

When asked if he was going to use the glove that Kim Kwang-hyun gave him right away, Son said, "No. I have to put it in the locker." "I have Kim Kwang-hyun's uniform and commemorative composition. I will also keep my glove with me now," he said with a smile. "I need to get an autograph from Son," Kim said when he heard the news. He cheered that his junior is growing into a pitcher who surpasses him.