I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized

Apr 09, 2025

I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized
The KBO League game between Lotte and Doosan held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 5th. The bases loaded with two outs in the fifth inning. Lotte's Kim Min-sung, who hit a timely two-run hit, is sharing a high five with Jeon Joon-woo after the inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.05/



I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized
The KBO League game between Lotte and Doosan at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 4th. Lotte Kim Min-sung gets on base with a walk in the second inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.04/
I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized
The KBO League game between Lotte and Doosan held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 5th. The bases loaded with two outs in the fifth inning. Lotte's Kim Min-sung made a timely two-run hit. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.05/
"I'm glad the seniors are doing well these days."

It's a relief that Lotte Giants, who are shaking at the beginning of the season, are cheering up. Kim Min-sung is at the center of it.

Kim Min-sung, who met at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 8th, recalled the game against the Doosan Bears on the 6th, which ended with a big defeat, saying, "It was not an easy game. I want to get a better result next time," he said, reflecting on his regret.




The game ended in a disappointing upset loss, leading 5-0 and 12-7 before turning over 12-15. However, Kim Min-sung saw his first 'Taste of Hands' this year. It was a three-run shot against Doosan's Hong Min-gyu in the seventh inning.

Kim Min-sung said "Rather than aiming for a home run, the runner was in the scoring position in the first out, and the infield was moving forward. I hit it with the mindset of sending it comfortably to the outfield, but I was luckyI thought it was over the moment I got hit. I still have that feeling."

"There was a hit that could have been a home run against Hanwha in Daejeon, but it was unfortunately caught. Come to think of it, there was a reason why I couldn't pass it over. I got that point, so this time it's a home run."




I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized
The KBO League game between Lotte and Doosan held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 5th. The bases loaded with two outs in the fifth inning. Lotte's Kim Min-sung, who hit a timely two-run hit, is sharing a high five with Jeon Joon-woo after the inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.05/
He changed his uniform to Lotte, which has been suffering from a long slump since he became a hometown team from the winning team through a trade last year. That's how motivated he was. He is a player who can lead the team atmosphere in the locker room.

He faced a slump in hitting in the first half of the year, and after the expiration of the first team in June, he stayed in the second team. The main lineup of Son Ho-young, Park Seung-wook, Ko Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop is in place, and it was not easy to squeeze in the infield lineup supported by left-handed pinch hitter Choi Hang. This led to the exclusion of this year's first-team spring camp.

Still, Kim Min-sung didn't give up and collected himself. Regarding the last ordeal, he said, "'Lotte's going to fall baseball is our goal, isn't it?' and `The manager also gave me faith that I would be able to prepare well as a senior, so I waited while training well"I looked back.




This season, newcomers called `Yoon-Gona Hwang-son' are facing injuries and sluggishness, respectively. Kim Min-sung joined the first team a week after the opening, and since then, he has been playing a salt-like role of the team with a batting average of 265, one home run, seven RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.695. Not only did he give a shot at every crisis, but he also defended second base with solid defense, adding stability to the mound.

I've been waiting for the director's call Lotte in crisis. A 37-year-old veteran was supported...the value he emphasized
KBO League match between Hanwha and Lotte at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 2nd. Lotte's hitting Kim Min-sung. Daejeon =Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.02/
He wore a Lotte uniform in the second round in 2007 and has been in the KBO League in his 19th year this year. Starting with Lotte, he returned to Lotte after passing through the Nexen Heroes and the LG Twins.

He is famous for his infield all-round utility. "I've seen a lot of third base, but after playing a few games, I get used to that position again. I'm comfortable with second base now, but I can do well anywhere," he smiled.

"Everyone goes through a slump after a year of playing. It's a relief that I'm in good shape when young players are in bad shape. That's the role I can play, and I think it's about helping the team. They are players who can do as well as last year if they find a sense of touch. I am only prepared to play my part, in accordance with my position, at all times."



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.