Samsung`s batting coach Lee Jin-young, 44, who used to be a “people’s right fielder,” is busy this season. He left SSG where he first started his career as a coach for the Samsung Lions after the 2023 season, and before joining the team, he joined the coaching staff of the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) national team to contribute to winning the runner-up prize in the championship. Now, he is making talent donations from time to time.
Despite the busy winter season, the biggest part of Samsung’s daily schedule is agonizing over whether to make another leap forward in the 2024 season. Samsung had experienced fall baseball by ranking second in 2021, but fell to seventh in 2022 and eighth last year. Notably, the team was disappointed with its batting average. Its batting average in the 2023 season was only sixth (0.263), while its home runs (88) and score production per game (4.33).
As the pitchers have been reinforced, the batters need to help
Coach Lee said in a phone call on the 8th, “I will help the players so that the hit can be much better than last year,” adding, “I haven’t met many players yet, but I’m thinking about how to help younger players after identifying them first.” “Obviously, I think the players did well enough last season,” he said. “Since the team has reinforced a lot of pitchers, hitters should work harder to help the pitchers.”
Lee’s trip to Daegu is also a challenge that is unfamiliar to him. Lee, who started his professional career at Ssangbangwool based in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, in 1999, started playing for SK (2000-08), LG (2009-15), and KT (2016-18) only for metropolitan teams. Lee also served as a coach for SK and SSG from 2020 to last year. “I wore blue uniforms when I was young and experienced various uniforms including red and black, so I think they would suit me well,” Lee said with a smile.
The team’s color is also very different from that of SSG. The SSG lineup, which was led by Lee, is considered to be the most powerful team in home runs for the past three consecutive seasons, while the Samsung lineup is relatively weak in slugging capability. “The composition of the players is different from that of SSG,” Lee said. “My role is to help the players hit the right target, not to hit the ballpark.” “If a player fails to accept it, it is not good coaching, so we need trust between the players and the coach,” he added. “That is why it is important to understand the propensity of the team 헤라카지노.”
I’m more concerned with blood that’s younger than veteran
Among the key players of the new season’s lineup are “young blood,” left-handed trio Kim Ji-chan, Kim Sung-yoon and Kim Hyun-joon. “Veterans such as Koo Ja-wook, Kang Min-ho and Oh Jae-il have basic skills and will be good to them,” coach Lee said. “You have to pay attention to left-handed hitters Kim Ji-chan, Kim Sung-yoon and Kim Hyun-joon who are just taking their seats.” They have less full-time experience and play faster and more sophisticated shots than long-range shots. “The three players should show an upgraded version to help the team,” coach Lee said. “The technology can improve in a short period of time, but if you are a player, you need to show consistent growth in order to have a long run.”
The biggest variable this year is the introduction of the automatic ball determination system (ABS). “It is fair to have a consistent strike zone,” coach Lee said. “However, since the left and right sides are narrow and the top and bottom sides are wide, why don’t we increase the left and right sides and reduce the top and bottom sides?” Some players may have differences in height, and others may have ambiguous ball decisions on curves that are wide between the top and bottom sides. I was told to revise the rules during practice matches.”
Lee has been donating his talents to encourage aspiring players to stick to the basics. “I have been there since a few years ago when I was asked to see the players of Seoul Arts University, led by coach Seo Han-kyu, who recently became a coach with SK, and taught them daily with Hanwha coach Choi Won-ho,” Lee said. “I hope they learn the basics well and come to the professional league.”