The future of the Lotte Giants is growing on the other side of the globe.
Lotte general manager Seong Min-gyu leaves for Australia on the 12th. Watching the Australian Professional Baseball (ABL) Geelong Korea game is also included in the schedule.
Geelong Korea is played by Lotte’s Kim Jin-wook, Seo Jun-won, Kim Min-suk, and Kim Seo-jin.
Kim Jin-wook fought back with 3 runs in 5 innings in the second game of the double header against the Perth Heat on the 7th (hereinafter Korean time).
It is quite different from Nanjo (8 runs in 2 innings) against the Sydney Blue Sox on the 30th of last month, which was his Australian debut. Even after leaving for Australia on the 9th, it was a more regrettable match because he spent time focusing on adapting to the league and pitching balance.
However, he reversed the atmosphere by showing good pitching against Perth, which boasts Australia’s best hitting line. He allowed a two-run home run in the first inning and gave up the lead, but he overcame repeated crises afterwards. He gave up one more run in the 5th inning, but the additional crisis caused by an error by third baseman Kim Tae-yeon was prevented without a run. 75 pitches.
Seo Jun-won digested both the bullpen and the starters. In the game against Perth on the 6th, one day ahead of Kim Jin-wook, he fought back with 2 runs in 5 innings. The overall record of the Australian league is 7 matches (2 starts) 1 win 2 losses average ERA of 4.58. Although the fastball restraint has been reduced to less than 140km, stable control and various breaking balls stand out.
Kim Jin-wook and Seo Jun-won are highly likely to play as bullpen longmen and substitute starters this season. They are the two young guns carrying the future of Lotte.
Kim Min-seok is the hitter who most surprises the domestic baseball world watching the Geelong Korea game. Although he is a rookie who has not even made his debut yet, he is attracting attention.
In the second game of the doubleheader against Perth, where Kim Jin-wook started, he went 2 hits in 4 at-bats (1 double) and swung hard. A batting average of .25 and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.639 may seem insignificant at first glance, but the officials who watched every game said, “Unlike a 19-year-old, a fierce yet smooth swing” and “Confidence in betting without being intimidated by the results.” I do,” he praises. The evaluation deserves the nickname ‘the second Lee Jung-hoo’.
He is being tested in a variety of positions, 메이저사이트 playing first base, second base, third base, and even center field. His position in high school was shortstop, but his potential as a second baseman and outfielder will be tested as a pro. In the future, he is a promising player to lead Lotte’s batting line together with Han Dong-hee, Kim Min-soo, Na Seung-yeop and Ko Seung-min.
Kim Seo-jin is famous as a ‘YouTube baseball self-taught’ player. It is evaluated that he still needs time to adapt to being a pro. He is still not perfected, but his talent is recognized. He is a young player who is the same age as Kim Min-seok after passing the GED.