"All that's left is to be stronger." Who is the main character of the second half of the fight? The field's attention was focused on one team.

Jul 09, 2024

Lotte won the winning series with a 10-2 victory at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 23rd. Manager Kim Tae-hyung greets his fans after the game. Gocheok = Reporter wook@sportschosun.com/2024.06.23/

The 2024 KBO League All-Star Game was held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 6th. Lotte manager Hwang Sung-bin and Kim Tae-hyung. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.07.06/

The winning rate of the No. 1 team is less than 60%. From the No. 1 KIA Tigers to the last Kiwoom Heroes, the difference is only 13 games.

No team can be relieved if they slip for a moment. Which team is the most feared in the second half of 2024 in the professional baseball field.

According to a survey of a total of 50 people from 10 clubs, including managers, general managers, coaches, and key players, conducted by Sports Chosun after the end of the first half, Lotte received 29 votes, more than half of the 50 votes in the best dark horse category in the second half. In particular, some teams all five surveyed pointed to Lotte.

It was the first half of the year that experienced all-time falls and upswing. Lotte recorded 8 wins, 22 losses and 1 draw and a winning margin of -14 until May 1st, combined with the extreme slump of veterans' pitching and stagnant growth of prospects that they believed at the beginning of the season.

However, the trend turned around as ace Aaron Wilkerson revived and young hitters such as Hwang Sung-bin, Yoon Dong-hee, Ko Seung-min, and Na Seung-yeop gained strength.

A game between the Doosan Bears and the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Stadium on the 4th. Lotte Wilkerson is pitching hard. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.07.04/

Lotte, which succeeded in rebounding with 13 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw in May, finally achieved the best performance among the 10 clubs with 14 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw in June. Although Kim Tae-hyung's first season in office almost ended in vain, he succeeded in quickly defeating the team as a master of seven consecutive Korean Series wins and three championships.

There are only two batters (Reyes and Yoon Dong-hee) who have met the first half of the regular at-bats. This is the result of the sluggishness of major hitters and injuries that come like spinning songs.

Reyes has a high-calorie performance with a batting average of 346 OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.884, and Yoon Dong-hee has a batting average of 322 OPS of 0.821. Increasing the number of cards that can be used through trades, second drafts, and recruitment of released players helped greatly. In the meantime, a super-jackpot named Son Ho-young also exploded.

'Captain' Jeon Joon-woo was away for about five weeks, and Son Ho-young, who has emerged as a new center hitter, also set up a tower of hits in 30 consecutive games, while leaving again due to injury following May. Ko Seung-min, who was out ahead of the All-Star break, is fortunately able to join quickly, but the gap between the main catcher Yoo Kang-nam will continue for a while.

Lotte and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 23rd, and Lotte Hwang Sung-bin hits a triple that separates the right-center in the top of the fifth inning and cheers. Gocheok = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2024.06.23/

If the pitching staff's turning point is a revival of Wilkerson's first shutout of professional baseball this year, nine consecutive quality starts (more than six innings and less than three earned runs), the catalyst for the batters was 'Mahwang (Hwang Sung-bin of Ma-sung)"Hwang." Lotte, which stopped the trend in early May, began to heat up rapidly in late May when Hwang Sung-bin began to play a major role.

Hwang Sung-bin, who had previously shown a different appearance by hitting three home runs in a doubleheader before falling out due to injury in late April, has become a leading force in the team's upward trend by hitting, stealing and hitting potential in the overall offense. Although he has not yet met the regular at-bats, his first-half performance has a batting average of 349, four home runs, and an OPS of 0.883.

In particular, he noted that there is still power to be strengthened in the second half. Left-hander ace Barnes will return from the beginning of the second half. Park Se-woong and Koo Seung-min, the central pitchers, can also hit the bottom and come up as they suffered a tough slump in the first half. Key hitters such as Ko Seung-min, Son Ho-young and Yoo Kang-nam, and young must-win teams such as Choi Joon-yong and Jeon Mir, who will play the pivotal role of the team, also still need to recover from injuries and sluggishness.

Lotte and KIA match to be held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 27th. Lotte Barnes is warming up. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.27/

On the spot, there is something to come about Lotte's momentum this season' is in the mood. Prospects who have been stagnant for years are bursting their potential all at once. "Now the frame is in place. The harmony of Tuta stands out", "It's just that the water has risen. The momentum is frightening. There's plenty of room to be stronger", "The players were young, full of motivation and confidence. have an extraordinary atmosphere" was followed by a series of responses.

"The key variable that will determine the middle power battle…" The atmosphere was the main dark horse. Coach A, general manager B, and manager C agreed that the hit is coming up, and when Barnes returns, he will gain more momentum. Like head coach D and head coach E "Kim Tae-hyung's power is coming out. It has become a completely different team than it was at the beginning of the season.

KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 30th, KT Ko Young-pyo is delighted after striking out Samsung Lee Sung-kyu with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in the top of the third inning. Suwon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.06.30/

KT Wiz (8 votes), who has shown the best turnaround show of all time, ranked second, and Hanwha Eagles (4 votes), whose head coach was replaced, ranked third. NC Dinos (3 votes), Doosan Bears (3 votes), Kiwoom Heroes (2 votes) and Samsung Lions (1 vote).

In one way or another, KT received good scores for its team chemistry and potential, which are united around head coach Lee Kang-chul. Every year, the focus was on 'backing', which overcomes difficulties like a habit at the beginning of the season. The stable starting lineup, led by Ko Young-pyo, was also well received.

Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 21st. Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon on the ground. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.21/

In the case of Hanwha, expectations were high for the return of head coach Kim Kyung-moon. "We cannot ignore the effect of Director Kim Kyung-moon's appointment.", It was followed by praise that "the organization seems solid after the change of the command tower.' NC, Doosan, Kiwoom, and Samsung also have enough power to hit in the second half.

This year, professional baseball has surpassed 6 million spectators for the first time in the first half of the year, continuing its all-time box office boom. While the leading KIA has maintained its lead until the end of the first half despite repeated concerns, the first 10 million spectators in history will also get closer as the pursuit of other teams heats up.

◇Sport Chosun Professional Baseball Survey Results (Dark Horse in Second Half)

= Rank = Team name = Number of votes=

=1 = Lotte = 29=

=2=KT=8=

=3 = KRW = 4=

=4=NC=3=

=5 = Doosan, Kiwoom = 2=

=6 = Samsung = 1=

※Invalid 1

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