The Samsung Lions took first place among 10 teams with 13 homers in the demonstration game. Lee Seong-gyu, who ranked first in home runs, hit 5 and Kim Tae-hoon hit 3, responsible for 62% of the team’s home runs. All of them have one thing in common: they are Futures League title holders. It is expected that it will create a new wind this season by performing brilliantly in the demonstration game.
Lee Seong-gyu, who hit 31 home runs in 2018 while a member of the police baseball team and took the top spot in home runs in the Futures Northern League, was evaluated as the best in the team for his ability to produce long hits. However, in his first team stage, he did not show his ability properly. All he did was hit his first double-digit home run (10) in his 2020 debut. Until last year, he played in 148 games for the first team, recording a batting average of 10.7% (55 hits in 307 at-bats), 12 homers, 38 RBIs, 39 points and 4 steals. He was often intimidated by frequent injuries and the pressure to show while going back and forth between the 1st and 2nd teams. 안전놀이터
It was a completely different look in the trial game. He appeared in 14 games and showed his strength by recording a batting average of 3.3 3 (12 at 36), 5 homers, 11 RBIs, 7 runs, and an OPS of 1.146. He went back and forth in the infield and outfield until last year, but from this year, he focused only on outfield defense, which had a positive effect on his hitting.
Manager Park Jin-man said, “Lee Seong-gyu is standing at bat with confidence in the demonstration game. I feel confident in his ability to cope with the breaking ball, which was his weakness.” expressed anticipation. He also added, “There is a 99% chance that Lee Seong-gyu will start as center fielder for the opening game. It has always been said that the player who is in the best condition should play, and he is the best player on our team right now.”
Kim Tae-hoon, who ranked first in batting average (.367) in the Futures Southern League in 2020, became a new member of the Samsung family as a free agent compensation player for Kim Sang-soo (KT). Having caught the attention of coach Park Jin-man enough to be selected as the camp MVP, he continued his upward trend with a batting average of 301.04 (11 hits in 35 at-bats), 3 homers, 12 RBIs and 6 runs in demonstration games.
Manager Park Jin-man said, “It’s good to see him moving energetically. I highly valued his batting ability when appointing him. I watched him closely when he played with Futures last year, and I got the impression that his level is one level higher than other players.” He also predicted, “Defense is outfield as well as first baseman due to the team’s circumstances, and it will be better because he has more opportunities to play games.”
Lee Seong-gyu and Kim Tae-hoon, who were well-received as hard-working players, showed their abilities properly through demonstration games. If the good flow continues in the regular season, it is expected that it will bring a new wind to the Lions. /what@osen.co.kr