You shouldn't be able to hit 30 home runs? NPB's 403 home run legend also made another promise

Nov 19, 2025

Ko Myung-jun who competed in the Kagoshima promising camp's own red and white match. Photo =SSG Landers

[Kagoshima (Japan) = Reporter Na Yuri from Sports Chosun]"I think he needs to hit about 30." The responsibility seems to be heavy."

Takeshi Yamasaki, a legend of 403 home runs in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) who was invited as a batting instructor at the SSG Landers' Kagoshima closing camp in Japan, closely watched Ko Myung-joon, a promising player, from the beginning.

Ko Myung-joon, who began to stand out in the first division last year after joining in 2021, is establishing himself as the main first baseman. In particular, what I expect from Ko Myung-joon is a long shot. For SSG, which has fewer long-distance prospects, it is a hitter who can take advantage of his home stadium and grow it.

Ko Myung-joon, who hit 11 home runs last year, tried to hit 30 home runs this year, but only 17. Although the batting performance and indicators have improved overall, they are definitely not satisfactory given the amount of training and efforts they have prepared since last year. However, there were definitely ideal figures at the end of the second half of the season and in the postseason. In particular, in the semi-playoff series against the Samsung Lions, he fired cannons for three consecutive games in Game 1 to 3, giving a ray of comfort to the team's frustrating attack.

Although he played full-time in the first division this season, Ko Myung-joon was also listed on the Kagoshima closing camp list. However, when the Yamasaki instructor saw Ko Myung-joon's batting training at first sight, he was surprised, saying, `He is really talented.'

사진=SSG 랜더스

The batting coach Lim Hoon, who is newly joining the coaching staff, also said, `Myeong-jun is a batter who adjusts the timing well so that he can cope with any ball. It's not just training, but it requires a sense of what you have and various complex elements, and Ko Myung-joon was born with that," he said, explaining why Ko Myung-joon is considered the best hitter prospect in the team.

The Yamasaki instructor said, `I think this friend has to hit about 30 times. It seems that the team also needs to play well. The responsibility is heavy.'

Ko Myung-joon said, `I have time in the closing camp to hone up the good parts of the second half and make it more of a remover"As I spent this season, I felt that fitness management was really more important than anything else." Last year, I was very anxious if I didn't bat even for a day, but this year, coach Kang Byung-sik (current head coach of Kiwoom)He established a routine while training indoors with Lee, and rarely hit the bat before the game. After I got my routine, I felt less pressure physically"I thanked the former coach Kang.

Picture=Reporter Nayuri

SSG's fall baseball, which failed to advance to the playoffs with one win and three losses, was also the first experience for Ko Myung-joon. Ko Myung-jun said, `I was looking forward to it a lot, but it was really fun. The atmosphere is definitely different, the cheering sound is loud, it's hectic and fun. It would have been nice to go up to the next series and try it with other teams, and stay as late as possible, but it's a shame that it didn't happen. But since we had a great experience this year, we need to prepare well for the upcoming season"I renewed my determination.

Ko Myung-joon's most hooked hitter recently is his teammate Ryu Hyo-seung, not MLB or NPB players. Ryu Hyo-seung, a great power heater, appeared like a comet at the end of this season and hit six home runs in 27 games.

When asked who the batter he is most into recently, Ko Myung-joon said, `I am most into Hyo-seung. This is not a lie. I have a lot of conversations about hitting, and I think there's something theoretically right with me"I've never thought that Hyo-seung is good this year and can be checked, but I want to play with him since he's playing I think there is more synergy like this."

Ko Myung-joon, who made a gift promise with general manager Kim Jae-hyun and manager Lee Soo-yong to achieve 30 home runs this year, unfortunately failed to achieve it, but he will try again next year. Director Lee Sung-yong offered a prize of 3 million won. If it is not achieved, it is a condition that Ko Myung-joon must give to the coach.

Ko Myung-joon was determined, saying, `The director trusts me like this and writes it, and now I have to show you the record that meets the expectations.'

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.