Can the LG Twins win the Korean Series after 29 years? The key to this season’s performance largely depends on the ‘right line’ of first baseman, second baseman and right fielder.
As for the first baseman, Geopo prospect Lee Jae-won will switch positions from outfielder and take on the starting role. The second baseman has been a concern for LG for several years, and third free agent Seo Geon-chang challenges the third time. In the right fielder, foreign hitter Austin Dean has to break the chain of atrocities against foreigners.
Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “It is true that the right line is more important than the left line (third base, shortstop, left fielder). I don’t worry too much about the defense of 1st base, 2nd base, and right field. The first base defense has a backup plan. Attack power is the key point. Plan B is also ready,” he said.
Lee Jae-won is a player LG is developing as the next-generation fourth hitter. After director Yeom took office, Lee Jae-won, who was about to enlist as a commercial officer, postponed his military service. He changed his position to a first baseman instead of a thick outfield, and plans to guarantee a chance to play. The plan for the season is to give Lee Jae-won a chance no matter how bad his grades are.
2nd base expects Seo Geon-chang to make a comeback. During the Nexen days, coach Yeom helped Seo Kun-chang achieve the record of 200 hits in the season. I am trying to find a way as a mentor for Seo Geon-chang, who has repeated numerous modifications to his batting form after his sluggish performance over the past few years and his transfer to LG.
From last year’s finish camp, he gave a task to rebound, such as batting form when he was good in the past, and he is confident that he will improve this year.
Seo Kun-chang was traded to LG in the second half of 2021, and in 68 games, he only scored 24 points, 24 RBIs, and 33 points in 68 games. Last year, he only participated in 77 games, and was sluggish with a batting average of 2.24 and 18 RBIs and an OPS of .605. He delayed free agency twice, but this year should be different.
Austin, the new foreign hitter, plays right field. Manager Yeom wants a baseball that prevents runners on first base from running to third base and gives one less base. Austin said, “The right fielder is the most confident. He showed confidence, saying메이저사이트, “My throwing speed isn’t the best, but my strength is accuracy.”
Austin, who has been rumored to go to the KBO for the past few years, said, “I can hit powerfully, and I am good at base running and defense. In a word, he is versatile,” he appealed to himself. An outfielder who can run the ball. The best thing to do is hit.
In 2020, LG’s most home run in a season, Roberto Ramos, was replaced due to a back injury during 2021, and substitute Justin Boer was sluggish at 10%. Last year, Rio Ruiz (batting average .155) and Robello Garcia (batting average .206) were blown away in succession. Director Yeom said of Austin that it was okay as long as he had a batting average of 207 to 208, 20 home runs.
At camp, it’s mostly rosy. If Seo Geon-chang is similar to last year this year, what should Austin do if he cannot escape from the cruelty of foreign batters?
Manager Yeom said, “There are Kim Min-seong and Song Chan-eui as alternatives to second base. Moon Seong-joo can fill the right field position,” he said. Kim Min-seong is preparing for the season with multi-backup to third base, second base, and first base. Song Chan-eui, who was the home run king in the exhibition game last year, improved little by little as he accumulated experience while playing in Australian professional baseball last winter.
Moon Seong-ju is the super backup of the LG outfield. Although he fell short of last year’s regulation at-bats, he is a 30% hitter. Until the end of August, his batting average was close to .35. This season, if the main outfielder is a little sluggish, it is a ‘5-minute standby’ that can be replaced at any time. Director Yeom calls it “super backup.”
Not operating Plan B is what director Yeom wants most. Seo Geon-chang’s revival, Austin’s adaptation. And if Lee Jae-won settles down as first baseman, LG’s chances of winning the presidency will increase.