36G 0 Home Run Shock Report → Are you done analyzing? He was the best player in the team last year… The master's patience...

May 05, 2025

롯데 손호영. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.25/

롯데 손호영. Jamsil= Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

It was the first time in a year, but again in a year, it fell into an extreme slump where the end was unknown.

Lotte Giants Son Ho-young (31) is hardly getting out of his endless slump.

Until May 4, Son Ho-young has a batting average of 222, 0 homers and 7 RBIs, and OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.50. Lotte has already played 36 games, but there is not a single home run.

Although he is still being used as a main player, the batting order was pushed back and fell to No. 8.

The evaluation that the trailblazing plan itself has completely collapsed. He also struggled for a while in defense as the hit shook. In particular, throwing anxiety was a problem. Even now that the defense has stabilized, the bat, which has still cooled down, is not returning. The unique fearless swing became a weakness.

He broke through one of the pillars of last year's clean-up and played as the fourth batter at the end of the season. Until this season, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung was the No. 1 player in the third batting order.

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

The batting tendency is a bad ball heater that focuses on hitting the ball by looking at the ball. It is far from the style of waiting for the pitch type he is aiming for with a clear aim, or drawing a line in the air and showing off his sharp pioneering eyes. He played 428 at-bats last year, but had only 17 walks. It is only half the size of Hwang Seong-bin (31 at-bats for 406), who has a similar style. It is similar to Roh Jin-hyuk (157 at-bats), who suffered from severe sluggishness.

He was a generous prospect during his time with the LG Twins, but he did not take several opportunities. He couldn't break through the thick wall of the main line, and sometimes even if he got a chance, he was suffering from minor injuries and often left.

In the end, he wore a Lotte uniform as a trade with Woo Kang-hoon in the 150km side arm. From LG's point of view, it was meaningful to make way for prospects who did not blossom in the end despite the efforts of Ryu Ji-hyun and Yeom Kyung-yeop, along with the feeling of getting a must-win candidate.

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

Regarding the secret of spending last year's life season, he also says, `I erased my thoughts from the at-bats and focused on the ball.' He had a good natural sense of hitting the ball and showed a long shot based on strong wrist strength.

It was different for Lotte, which has found psychological stability. He had a batting average of 317, 18 homers and 78 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.892. Despite not meeting the regular at-bat, he has emerged as a treasure and pillar of the team as he has completely filled the No. 1 home run in the team and the third base position without Han Dong-hee (National Military Sports Unit) due to his long-shot power.

The full-scale analysis of the details must have taken place after the end of last season. He hasn't been able to show his skills in a season that can be called a real test.

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

So far, coach Kim Tae-hyung has been steadily using him as the main player, giving him an opportunity. However, once you gain trust, it is the head coach's tendency not to look back until you regain your skills from then on. I've already been to the second team once. At this rate, we cannot avoid the view that last year was 'fluke'.

After graduating from Chunghoon High School, he ate teary bread in the Chicago Cubs minor league in the U.S., and made his professional debut through the independent league. He is a player with a firm wicket to overcome setbacks. Will he be able to overcome his immediate ordeal and return to last year's luck.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.