There was a reason for overflowing confidence...The defense is the wall of wailing → the batting is .400 fire bat is also born as a blessing in disguise

Apr 14, 2025

Lotte Jeon Min-jae is happy to hit an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second base at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 8th. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.08/

Lotte Jeon Min-jae hits an RBI comeback in the top of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on third base in a game between Lotte and NC at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 11th. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.11/

A game between KIA and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 10th, Lotte shortstop Jeon Min-jae catches a ground ball by KIA Wisdom and throws it to first base in the top of the second inning. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.10/

'Super Trade' is revealing Lotte Giants' 2025 season prospects.

Lotte is on the list of '5th place' out of 10 clubs until the 13th. With 16 to 19 games per team, it is meaningful even though the ranking fluctuates every one or two wins.

Above all, Jeon Min-jae, who has already established himself as the main shortstop after the adjustment period at the beginning of the season, and Jung Cheol-won, who plays the role of a trust man, have a great presence. Looking back, it was a shot that accurately filled the team's weaknesses.

Lotte's weaknesses last season were the lack of a must-win bullpen and infield anxiety. Lotte gave up Kim Min-seok, who had 100 hits in his first year of debut and the star of the No. 1 uniform sales, Choo Jae-hyun, and tall pitcher Choi Woo-in, and recruited Jung Chul-won, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, and Jeon Min-jae, an infield multi. I believed in the possibility of Yoon Dong-hee, Hwang Sung-bin, and Jo Se-jin, and I was desperate for something to be desired.

Although it felt unconventional due to the name values of Jung Chul-won and Kim Min-seok, it was a counter-trade with a 'Winwin' atmosphere that both teams were happy rather than disappointed.

Lotte immediately exchanged two players for power and Doosan for an unfinished prospect package. Therefore, Lotte is in a position to show a good performance 'right now' with head coach Kim Tae-hyung at the helm.

Lotte Jeon Min-jae is hitting the game between Lotte and NC at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 11th. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.11/

And Jeon Min-jae and Jung Cheol-won are proving. This year, people of the same age of 26 are heating up Sajik Stadium.

In the case of Jung Cheol-won, he has taken the mound in 11 out of 19 games, showing a heavy responsibility. Although the 6.23 ERA is a bit disappointing due to frequent appearances, it is an indispensable victory for Lotte, as the performance of seven holds in eight ⅔ innings shows. In particular, with Kim Sang-soo and Koo Seung-min sluggish and Choi Jun-yong leaving due to injury, they are actually working hard as a 'I must win alone'. The role of a mood maker with the best intense ceremony in the team is a bonus.

If Jung Chul-won's performance is as expected, Jeon Min-jae, who received less attention than him, is also expected to remain a success in Lotte's trade history after Son Ho-young last year.

The game between KIA and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 10th, and Lotte Jeon Min-jae hit an RBI timely hit in the bottom of the 8th inning and KIA left fielder Lee Woo-sung left the ball out, running to third base. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.10/

At the beginning of the season, head coach Kim Tae-hyung gave Park Seung-wook a chance first to the main shortstop position. However, Park Seung-wook lost confidence due to poor pitching and hitting. Rookie Lee Ho-joon and Han Tae-yang were tested, but Jeon Min-jae took over.

The net defense, which has been reborn as a wall of wailing in the resignation infield, stands out. Jeon Min-jae's watertight defense played a big part in recording three wins and three losses in six consecutive games against the KIA Tigers-NC Dinos.

What stands out even more is the batting. The record of hitting in the last nine consecutive games and entering the regular at-bat is .400 (20 hits in 50 at-bats). There is no home run, but five doubles are included, so the on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) is 0.944.

In the game between KIA and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 10th, Lotte Jeon Min-jae hits a hit and shares joy in the bottom of the second inning with no outs. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.10/

In an interview with this newspaper before the season, Jeon Min-jae said "I originally had shortstop as the main position. "I'm confident in all of my infield positions, but I'm the best shortstop." He also showed stable defense at third and second bases, but his range of defense and strong shoulders in his shortstop position shine brilliantly.

Until last season, Jeon had a career batting average of 255. However, Jeon Min-jae said, `I think I have my own qualities in hitting. He has the ability to match, and he knows how to hit. I hope you trust me and leave it to me" also revealed his intentions. It was not just groundless confidence. Rather than putting too much pressure on him, head coach Kim Tae-hyung is using him in the bottom batting order with the mindset of "Please do well in defense." However, if he continues to show fast feet and strong batting, he can also be used as a table setter in the future.

Also, a blessing in disguise was born. Lotte fans are now naturally saying, `What would I have done if it hadn't been for that trade?'

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.