If you throw the bullpen more than 150km... In the end, Kim Tae-hyung was right. Hot guy Hong Min-ki joins → Lotte's reliable back door, is Yoon Sung-bin, too?

Jul 22, 2025

Lotte Hong Min-ki, who finished the game between Lotte and LG at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 19th, is welcoming first baseman Jung Hoon, who blocked his check ball with his body in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on second base. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.07.19/

The game between Doosan and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 9th, and Choi Joon-yong, with two outs and runners on the second and third bases, is delighted after finishing the inning with Cave grounded out to first base in the top of the eighth inning. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.07.09/

"It's good to throw a bullpen at least 145 kilometers and if possible, more than 150 kilometers." Because you have to be able to overcome the crisis with relief."

The Lotte Giants bullpen is becoming more reassuring. It is thanks to Hong Min-ki, one of the hottest guys in professional baseball recently.

Hong Min-ki, from Daejeon High School, wore a Lotte uniform in the second round (four times overall) in 2020. He was a left-hander who threw fastballs at an ideal height of 1m85.

However, it was hard to see him on the professional first team stage. Only the ball was fast, but it was not controllable, and the pitching form was large, so it was a shame to check the runner.

He became a different player by refining his pitching form more concisely and naturally. Powerful fastballs in the early-mid 150km range are stuck in the strike zone.

Pollution is not made at once. Whenever I had time, I caught the eye of Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung, who was looking for promising players in the second division.

A game between the Lotte Giants and the LG Twins at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 1st. Lotte Hong Min-ki is pitching hard. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.01/

On June 18, the alternative start against the Hanwha Eagles became a turning point. Hong Min-ki, who pitched hard with one run in four innings, showed off his attractive ball power of up to 156km.

In the game against the Doosan Bears on July 8, he was once again selected as a substitute starter, overcoming competition with existing starter Kim Jin-wook. He played in 12 games (starting 2) this season. He has a two-hold ERA of 1.21 in 22 ⅓ innings.

Head coach Kim Tae-hyung said, `We will foster him as a starter from this year's closing camp. I will use it as a bullpen until the second half of this season." If there is a hole in the fifth starter consisting of Gamboa, Davidson, Park Se-woong, Lee Min-seok and Na Kyun-an, he may be used as an alternative starter along with Shim Jae-min and Kim Jin-wook.

Veteran bullpens such as Koo Seung-min and Kim Sang-soo are out due to injuries and sluggishness. However, manager Kim Tae-hyung said of the absence of the veteran bullpen `"They are not the players I will be briefed on condition separately. Players who will come to the first team if they are in good physical condition,' he said, adding that the bullpen should throw a fastball of at least 145 kilometers. It is better if it is more than 150 kilometers,' he said, emphasizing the ball power rather than the veteran's experience. Even if they come to the first team, they have to be a ball to play an important role.

Lotte Kim Kang-hyun is pitching hard in a game between Lotte and LG at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 19th. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.07.19/

First, they discovered mid-sized rookies such as Kim Kang-hyun and Park Jin last year and used them as bullpens. Kim Kang-hyun is also playing the role of Madangsoe as a long man and chasing team this year.

This year, it's Hong Min-ki. Following the performance of Chung Hyun-soo and Song Jae-young in the early part of the first half, he became a left-hander who gave Lotte a new boost, which was called a drought of left-handed pitchers. In particular, Chung Hyun-soo pitched 54 games in the first half alone, forming a solid must-win line with fatigue, Jung Chul-won, who has joined the bullpen since May.

Choi Jun-yong also shows an average fastball of more than 150 kilometers, showing off his higher ball power than before.

Lotte is dreaming of its first fall baseball in eight years. Ace Gamboa is in good shape, and Lee Min-seok has recently been in charge of one of the pillars of the selection. Davison and Na Kyun-an are also pitchers who do their part. If only Park Se-woong gets out of the slump, he can dream of more than just the 5th round with a powerful must-win group.

A game between the LG Twins and the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Stadium on the 20th. Lotte Kim Won-joong and Yoon Sung-bin are preparing for the game. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.20/

What if Yoon Sung-bin is added to this. Yoon Sung-bin joined the first team with the opening of the second half, but he has yet to take the mound in four consecutive games against the LG Twins due to Elotrasico's close game every game.

However, Yoon Sung-bin is a pitcher who showed a maximum speed of 158 kilometers as of this season. Manager Kim Tae-hyung himself has repeatedly emphasized that the only goal is not to advance to autumn baseball. Even though Yoon Sung-bin is the only batter on the fall baseball stage, will he be able to play his role in the moment of crisis, and will he be able to see Pil Seung-jo and Kim Won-joong, who lead to Hong Min-ki, Choi Jun-yong, and Jung Cheol-won, protect the victory.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.