You want to try AG instead? Lotte's Lee Min-seok will also play with manager Kim Tae-hyung in the 2026 season…QS No. 4 → The average five-inning class proved

Aug 15, 2025

Lotte Lee Min-seok, who finished pitching scorelessly in the top of the fifth inning at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 9th, greets the infield with a smile. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.07.09/

A game between the LG Twins and the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Stadium on the 20th. Lotte's Lee Min-seok is pitching hard. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.20/

Lotte starter Lee Min-seok is pitching hard in a game between Doosan and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 9th. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.07.09/

Lotte Giants Lee Min-seok (22) will be with manager Kim Tae-hyung next year. I decided to postpone my military service for a while.

There were no Lotte players on the list of successful candidates for the Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangju) released on the 14th. There were three players based on the last 1st list, but all were not named.

However, in the case of Lee Min-seok, it is his choice, not his elimination. This year, he has the opportunity of a lifetime.

He is a native of Busan baseball's prestigious Gaeseong High School (former Busan Sang High School), which produced leading legends and star players such as Kim Eung-ryong, Kang Byeong-cheol, Kim Yong-cheol, Yoon Hak-gil, Chae Tae-in, and Park Dong-won, who graduated from Suyeong Elementary School and Daecheon Middle School.

In high school, he couldn't show his skills due to frequent injuries. He has never pitched more than six innings. However, Lotte Club, who watched the tall 1m89 and flexible pitching form, believed in its future and selected it as the first nomination for the rookie in 2022.

And it burst its potential faster than expected. From the exhibition game, he was praised as a 'monster pitcher' by showing off his fastball up to 154km, and in the second half of his first year, he was once selected as a must-win team, drawing keen attention with his powerful ball power.

However, he suffered an elbow injury in the 2023 opener and faced a nightmare called Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound last year after sincere rehabilitation, but he was not in perfect condition, with his fastball speed dropping even after just one inning. Lee Min-seok even looks back on "1 year that I want to erase from my baseball life".

The game between the Lotte Giants and the LG Twins at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 3rd. Lotte starter Lee Min-seok pitched scoreless until the sixth inning thanks to the fielders' good defense. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.03/

Participating in the Chiba Lotte Marines' closing camp last winter became a turning point. Lee Min-seok, who once again trained his body from the basics, has been selected as the first team starter since May. And he has a 4.33 ERA with a total of 14 games this year, starting and 70 ⅔ innings.

There are still some ups and downs in every game, and there are only 2 wins and 4 losses because the luck of the team's victory is not followed this season, but it is a performance that is not insufficient to secure one of the pillars of the selection. Manager Kim Tae-hyung said "I'm throwing well enough. Don't be greedy"I didn't hide my excitement.

He has a strong fastball of up to 156km and a sharp slider, and he also occasionally uses curves and changeups to take away the timing of the batter. While throwing one of the league's best fastballs, he also has strong physical strength enough to play 90 to 100 pitches every game.

As there are two foreign pitchers and Park Se-woong, the burden of starting positions is not great. He has never taken the mound after a four-day break this season. It's also a blessing to be able to throw in a steady state all the time.

Considering that it will develop further than this year, it is showing enough presence to challenge the national team of the Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games in Japan next season. The club's judgment is that it is possible to get on board whether it is a starter or a bullpen with just a strong fastball.

The game between the Lotte Giants and the LG Twins at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 3rd. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung and Lee Min-seok, who won, are happy. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.03/

If the player himself wants to go to Sangmu or the military, the club cannot stop him. Jeon Mir, who is playing in the game by turning into a batter instead of being difficult to pitch due to an elbow injury, is a prime example. There is also a case of Kim Jin-wook, who delayed joining the military last year and dreamed of challenging the Asian Games, but fell into an unexpected slump.

Still, Lee Min-seok decided to challenge for the Asian Games national team. This is the expectation and trust of his class that has been proven this season.

As a result, Lee Min-seok will be able to be with manager Kim Tae-hyung at least until next year. This is why he is expected to develop further under the guidance of a master.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.