“We are focusing on improving the batting average in the scoring zone during the spring camp.”
The Lotte Giants, who have failed to advance to the postseason for the last five consecutive years, are preparing for the 2023 season. In the Stove League, infielder Noh Jin-hyeok, catcher Yoo Gang-nam, and pitcher Han Hyun-hee were recruited as external FAs to strengthen their strength, while the composition of the first team coaching staff, such as head coach Park Heung-sik, pitching coach Bae Young-soo, and battery coach Choi Gyeong-cheol, was also significantly changed.
Senior coach Park, a former batting coach, believes that Lotte’s preparations for the season are going smoothly. At the initiation ceremony of the three free agents on the 19th, “I am grateful to the club for recruiting good players. I think we should take more responsibility on the field,” he said. It seems,” he said confidently.
However, it is a position that the productivity in the attack needs to be increased. It is in the same context that he pointedly mentioned ‘scoring batting average’. He emphasized that a more sophisticated and concentrated blow should be made.
Lotte’s regular league team scored 605 points last year, ranking 9th out of 10 clubs. The mound also stayed in 9th place with a team ERA of 4.45.
In terms of scoring, the batting average was 7th with 0.259, and the double hit was the second most in the league with 48. The vicious cycle of putting runners together and failing to bring the flow was repeated throughout the season.
With the addition of Kang-Nam Yoo and Jin-Hyuk Noh this season, we can expect improved long-distance hitting power, but it is not certain that the void created by Lee Dae-Ho’s retirement will be filled. 안전놀이터
Foreign hitter Jack Rex, who succeeded in renewing the contract, showed the aspect of a clutch hitter with a scoring average of 0.449 (22 hits in 49 bats), 4 home runs and 29 RBIs.
For this reason, head coach Park said, “We are in a situation where we need to increase the batting average in the scoring position. I think it will increase with the arrival of Noh Jin-hyeok and Yoo Kang-nam.” “, he emphasized.
Noh Jin-hyeok and Yoo Gang-nam are also determined to do their part in the offense this season, as if they had read the mind of head coach Park. They signed super-large contracts of 5 billion won and 8 billion won, respectively, and promised to repay the club’s investment in terms of performance as they changed their uniforms.
Noh Jin-hyuk expressed his determination, saying, “If the club expects nothing from me, it will be even more strange. I will try to maintain an OPS of 0.8 or higher.”
Kang-Nam Yoo also said, “Even though my batting average has fallen over the past three years, I felt that it would go up again.”