“I really liked it.”
Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung on Sunday praised Han ahead of the first training session of the 2024 spring camp held at Dededo Sports Complex in Guam. It was Lee Ju-chan and Jeong Dae-seon who joined this year’s first spring camp after joining the Lotte Giants in 2021.
Lee Ju-chan, a graduate of Kyungnam High School and Dongui University, wore Lotte’s uniform as a nurturing player in 2021. Lee Ju-chan enjoyed playing in three games in the first division, although it is not long, and in the Futures League, he played 87 games, leaving 73 hits, one home run, 22 RBIs, 52 runs, and a batting average of 0.272 OPS 0.738. Lee Ju-chan quickly solved military problems through active service and returned to Lotte in 2023.
Lee Ju-chan was an active player but returned after getting better after serving in the military. Unlike his first season since debut, Lee has never been called to the first team, but he has shown remarkable growth with 34 hits, three homers, 18 RBIs, 21 runs batted in, and 0.301 OPS 0.843 in 42 games of the Futures League in 2023. And after catching the attention of manager Kim Tae-hyung in last year’s closing camp, he confidently listed himself in this year’s first-team spring camp.
When asked about Lee Ju-chan in an interview with reporters ahead of his first spring camp training on Sunday, Kim Tae-hyung gave a thumbs up, saying, “I enjoyed the performance much better than I expected.” Considering that Kim is usually stingy about compliments, he seemed to have made a good impression on Lee. “He has the most stable defense as a shortstop. And I think he has the best throwing ability (for the Lotte Giants).”
The head coach explains that he possesses not only defense but also bat capabilities. “He has great power in hitting. That’s why I have high expectations on the overall performance. It’s as if Shin sees it. The tools are very similar. I love having what he has,” the coach said. “I’m keeping an eye on Joo-chan because what he has is very good.” 마카오카지노주소
Shin joined the Hanwha Eagles as a nurturing player in 2015, has been in the Doosan Bears’ uniform since 2017, and has been in the same team with manager Kim Tae-hyung for a long time. Coach Kim Tae-hyung has evaluated Shin Sung-hyun as having great power and other talents when he was the Doosan coach, and he has consistently given him opportunities in the first division every year. However, unlike his excellent potential, he has not been able to fully display his talents on the field.
Shin played in 287 games during his nine seasons in the KBO League, leaving 96 hits, 16 homers, 59 RBIs, 75 runs batted in, and retired from active duty after the 2023 season. He was only born in 1990, so he was able to continue his career, but he decided to end his career due to retinitis. And now he started his second life as a power analyst for Doosan.
Along with Lee Joo-chan, who reminds us of Shin’s talent, coach Kim Tae-hyung also picked Jung Dae-sun, who was selected by Lotte with 43rd overall in the fifth round of the 2023 Rookie Draft, as a notable rookie. Jung left a batting average of 0.287 OPS 0.735 with 68 hits, two homers, 32 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 69 games of the Futures League last year, and he gained experience in the first division one by one from late September when he was called by the first division.
“In a way, Lotte’s infielders, including Noh Jin-hyuk, Park Seung-wook and Oh Sun-jin, are quite old,” the head coach said. “After these players, Lee Ju-chan and Jeong Dae-seon will serve as Lotte’s infielders. I don’t like having too many players in the spring camp,” he said with a smile. “But the coaching staff told me to take him home.”
The biggest issue at Lotte’s spring camp is “competition.” Except for “5 billion shortstop” Noh Jin-hyeok, there are no owners of all positions including first, second and third basemen. Lee Ju-chan is evaluated by his coach as having the best throwing ability along with outstanding batting talent, and Chung Dae-sun is also a promising player whose coaching staff strongly recommended him to join the spring camp for the main league. While it may be difficult to secure a position as a “main player” right now, this camp is expected to serve as an opportunity for young prospects to grow further.