“A new chapter has opened.”
Lee Dae-ho retired last season after recording 179 hits, 23 homers, and 101 RBIs in 143 games, a batting average of 0.331 and an OPS of 0.881. His career records in the KBO league are 972 hits, 374 homers, 1425 RBIs, a batting average of 0.309 and an OPS of 0.900.
There is no Lee Dae-ho in the Lotte Giants from this season. Manager Larry Sutton, who met with reporters at Gushikawa Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, said, “Lee Dae-ho is a player who left a great legacy.
Sutton continued, “This year, a new chapter has opened for the club. I think a new chapter has opened after a chapter has ended.” “In the past 2-3 years, young players have performed remarkably and have grown. There are also players who have grown into key players. Existing veterans The strength of the team was maximized by combining the players recruited as free agents (FA). We will open a new chapter with a stronger team.”안전놀이터
With Lee Dae-ho’s departure, Lotte actively played base runs in practice games. On February 28, they won 6-3 in a practice game against the Samsung Lions at Akama Stadium. With runners on first and third base in the 6th inning behind 2-3, Yoon Dong-hee and Kim Min-seok made a deep impression by scoring with bold double steals. Balancing Lotte added 3 points to win 6-3.
Coach Sutton said, “The lineup for practice games was different each time. Players with good athleticism were all over the place. We can create scoring situations in more diverse and creative ways.” Strategic base running becomes possible. We have become a team capable of bunt, steal, hit and run, and base running that goes one more base.”
Lotte conducted intense training at the camp. Coach Sutton said, “I did high quality and quantity training because I wanted to see the mental strength of the players getting stronger. I hope Lotte can start the season off and start. If they are on the rise in the early stages, they will be able to proceed with the pennant race in their favor.” Last season’s players lost their strength. All baseball players have a hard time starting in July and August. In that situation, I increased the amount of training in the hope that I would show the best performance without giving up mentally in that situation.”
Lotte will play an exhibition game against Doosan Bears at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 13th. The two teams will meet again in the regular season opener at Jamsil Stadium on April 1st. The beginning of a new chapter is drawing near.
[Coach Lotte Sutton is talking to the players after the Lotte Giants and Hanwha Eagles won 8-7 in a practice game held at Gushikawa Stadium in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan on the afternoon of the 2nd. Photo