Despite the praise for the best defense, the 2nd division → Lotte shortstop competition focused on hitting...Director Kim Tae-hyung's inner thoughts

Mar 20, 2025

The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and KIA was held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 8th. Lotte's hitting Lee Ho-joon. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.08/

A game between the Lotte Giants and the Seibu Lions at Nango Stadium in Miyazaki, Japan, on the 23rd. Lotte Park Seung-wook is hitting. Miyazaki(Japan) = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.02.23/

"You're the best when it comes to defense."

There was rare praise from the head coach, but he did not avoid the second leg.

Lotte Giants' second-year shortstop Lee Ho-joon (21) went down to the second division on the 19th. It was with pitcher Park Se-hyun and catcher Son Sung-bin.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung said of Son Sung-bin "I think I still need more hands-on experience as I'm back from injury." commented. He is a player whose strength is batting, but his batting average in the exhibition game was only 0-for-5 in six games and one walk. It is a consideration to raise your senses and come back. Yoo Kang-nam and Information-geun will take charge of the opening entry catcher.

Rookie Park Se-hyun of the second round showed an intense fastball over 150km. Rather than Kim Tae-hyun, who is likely to foster the starting pitcher, the possibility of playing in the first team was also predicted. However, as control is a weakness, it is said that time is still needed. While Kim Sang-soo, Jung Chul-won, Koo Seung-min, and Kim Won-joong's must-win team line is solid, there is also a similar style, Lee Min-seok.

The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and Hanwha at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 13th. Lotte's hitting Lee Ho-joon. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.13/

Lee Ho-joon is a second-year infielder who wore a Lotte uniform in the third round last year. The defense has been well received repeatedly. Even in the forward dash, the shoulders that can be sprayed strongly on the first base, and the range of defense through shrewd footwork are impeccable. He even has a calmness that is not as young as he is.

In terms of defense, he is the No. 1 shortstop competitor in the team, which is also recognized by head coach Kim Tae-hyung. Therefore, I watched the head coach from the beginning and agonized until the end.

He was accompanied by the first-team spring camp, and from friendly matches with Taiwan's WBC national team to the Miyazaki Guchun League, all of the first and second camps were open without injury, participating in most practice games. He was also given a chance to play in the exhibition game.

But the bat is the weakness. In the second division last year, he had a batting average of 240 (24 hits in 100 times at bat). He is not the type to have long balls such as home runs. In this year's exhibition game, he had no hits in six at-bats without getting on base in eight games, striking out one and killing two. For now, he decided that he needed time in the second division.

The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and LG held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 11th. Lotte Jeon Min-jae hitting. Busan=Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.11/

Before the season, Lotte Infield was expected to compete fiercely for the main shortstop. The main shortstop Park Seung-wook recorded a career high, hitting his first three-digit hit since his debut last year, but the defense's regret was pointed out relatively.

Jeon Min-jae, who was acquired during the trade process between Jung Chul-won and Kim Min-seok, is an eighth-year infielder who spent 395 innings on shortstop defense last year. He was Doosan's No. 2 shortstop after Park Joon-young last season. In addition, rookie Lee Ho-joon and Han Tae-yang, who returned from the Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangmu), were also named as players who will threaten Park Seung-wook.

However, the coach's trust in Park Seung-wook was strong. When asked by reporters about the main shortstop, he answered that "Park Seung-wook would feel bad if he asked like that."

Lotte and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 18th, and Lotte Han Tae-yang hits an RBI sacrifice fly with one out and runners on the second and third bases in the top of the fourth inning. Gocheok = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.03.18/

Jeon Min-jae was disappointed in his relatively short batting response. Still, he has a lot of experience compared to newcomers, and the hit is not bad. He is a player who covers all infield positions including shortstop.

Han Tae-yang was consistently used as a backup shortstop to support Park Seung-wook, and Choi Hang is expected to be used as an infield multi-backup and left-handed pinch hitter as he did last year. They are the players who will compete for a place in the first division infield throughout the season.

Lotte's main infielders Son Ho-young, Ko Seung-min, and Na Seung-yeop are all players at the center of the team's lineup. In the end, in order for Lotte to enter the fall baseball league, it must show better performance than last season not only in pitchers but also in hitting. The entry composition at the beginning of the season was focused on the attack.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.