By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Kia Tigers ace Kim Jin-woo is heading toward the end of his baseball career as his team waived him Wednesday.
The Gwangju-based team announced it would part with the 23-year-old prospect due to his frequent deviation from the team.
``Although Kim has often left the team without notice, we have exhausted ourselves in persuading him to return to the team and focus on baseball. As we, however, think that his bad demeanor deteriorates teamwork, we have decided to cut him,'' said the Tigers.
In addition to the aberration, his involvement in violence resulted in criminal charges in 2003.
According to a rule of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), a waived player cannot play for at least one year and therefore Kim will not be able to pitch until July 31, 2008.
If he wants to return to the mound, the Tigers only have the right to him.
He started the season on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury and was activated in early June.
However, he was not his old self who once dominated batters on the mound.
The youngster struggled in command in his five outings of the season.
He pitched 18 1/3 innings and allowed 19 runs, 17 earned, to accumulate an 8.35 ERA.
The Tigers sent him to the minors but he has not reported to training without any proper reason since July 11.
``I think even if Kim comes back, it will be difficult for him to continue his career,'' Tigers manager Seo Hung-hwan said.
``Considering his talent, it is unfortunate for him to quit baseball but I think the decision is inevitable for teamwork because he was troubled lots of times,'' captain Jang Sung-ho said.
Kim, who graduated from Gwangju Jinheung High School, joined the league in 2002, being dubbed as the ``next Sun Dong-yol,'' after agreeing to a 700-million-won ($700,000) deal, the most-paid for a rookie at that time.
In his first season with the Tigers, he showed off his 150-kmph fastball and good breaking ball to claim 12 wins and topped the league with 177 strikeouts.
Sophomore Jinx could not hamper him. Big-framed Kim, who stands 1.93 meters tall and weighs 110 kilograms, won 11 times with four complete games including two shutouts with a 3.45 ERA.
Although he recorded single-digit wins in 2003 and 2004, he rebounded to his old form, gaining 10 victories and his ERA marks career-best a 2.69.
Kim is 47-33 with a 3.66 ERA in his six-year career.