Lotte's best shot even after missing 37 games...How can you carry over 20 home runs on the back of the 'Sungdamjang demolition + Steel King Project'
Lotte's best shot even after missing 37 games...How can you carry over 20 home runs on the back of the 'Sungdamjang demolition + Steel King Project'
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"He's always worried about his hamstring."
Kim Tae-hyung, manager of the Lotte Giants in the Korean pro baseball league, had no choice but to feel anxious watching a player play throughout the seasons. Son Ho-young (30), an infielder who became a "buckoo" after joining the team through a trade at the end of March, had no choice but to worry about his injury.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung's concerns were not surprising. Son Ho-young has displayed his potential after joining the club through a trade from LG on March 31. However, he has not completely recovered from his bad reputation as a "glass body." He missed 55 days as he suffered two hamstring injuries. In terms of the number of games played, it was 37 games.
Despite missing 37 games, Son displayed impressive performance and productivity. He recorded a batting average of 317 (126 hits in 398 at-bats) with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 102 games with an OPS of .892. He recorded the most homeruns in his team despite missing quite a few games. The assumption is futile, but if he had missed few games, he could have exceeded 20 homeruns. He also set the record of hitting in 30 consecutive games despite missing games due to hamstring injury. It was a record that ranks third in KBO history and second in club history.
It is true that Son had the best season in his career, but he could not completely shake off his worry about his injury. In early August, right after returning from his second hamstring, coach Kim Tae-hyung said, "I have no pain right now, but it's 80 percent, not 100 percent. If I strain my hamstring a little more, I might get a tear (in my hamstring). I think I also have weak muscles," expressing concern.
As a result, Lotte has been preparing Son Ho-young's "steel king project" since mid-season. Son received special training in Tokyo for about a month from early November with pitcher Park Jin and rookie Kim Tae-hyung. Instead of attending the Miyazaki defensive camp, he strengthened his body and worked to improve his physical constitution. He was trained on muscle mobility, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and even a diet suitable for him. Before leaving for the training center, Son Ho-young also said, "I heard that my training schedule is tight. I will come back strongly. It will be great. I thank my team."
If the "Steel King Project" comes to fruition and Son Ho-young becomes healthy, Lotte's power calculation will also be easier. After Son Ho-young's transfer, productivity was acceptable, but if injury management is also included in the category of skills, there is no other way that regret follows. From the bench's point of view, no player is more grateful than a player who has good performance and plays full-time.
If the team plays more games, the number of home runs will also increase. Chances are high that it will be able to achieve the goal of 20 home runs that it failed to achieve this year. Moreover, Lotte recently decided to lower the fence at Sajik Stadium from 6 meters to 4.8 meters. In order to maximize the slugging power of mid- and long-distance hitters including Son Ho-young and Yoon Dong-hee and Ko Seung-min, the team has decided to remove the so-called "Sungdam Stadium," which has been a deterrent so far. Son Ho-young is also likely to be a beneficiary. 먹튀검증
How much will the number of home runs increase for Son, who plays full-time healthily and is backed by the lowered fence? The last batter with 20 home runs for Lotte was Lee Dae-ho (22) of the 2022 retirement season. Will Son be able to become the next batter with 20 home runs.