KIA's release → Independent club → Fostering player…The 26-year-old Uta Gupo, who shouted "'Now is the time to prove it', is also paying attention to the head coach
Jul 15, 2024
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Team Home Run 8th (68; No. 1 NC Dinos 106). The Lotte Giants are the Rifle Corps. The so-called Hwang Go Na-yoon (Hwang Sung-bin, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Yoon Dong-hee), who form the backbone of this season's team's batting lineup, are all middle-distance hitters. Jeon Joon-woo (10 home runs), who ranks first in the team, and Son Ho-young (8), who ranks second in the team, are all difficult players to consider as big guns.
This is why the presence of Lee In-han (26), who showed the quality of a big shot in the Futures, is important to Lotte. That is also a rare right-handed outfielder in the team. For Lotte, which does not even have the right-handed substitute resources to replace veteran Jung Hoon (37), it is like a welcome rain in a drought.
He had a batting average of 299, four homers and 20 RBIs, and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 0.933. It is evaluated that the shot from the company-type physique, which is strengthened by muscles, is powerful.
After graduating from Gangneung High School and Gangneung Yeongdong University, he entered the professional league by wearing the KIA Tigers uniform in the second ninth round in 2020. Released after the 2022 season, but didn't give up. He put down his professional pride and dreamed of making a comeback in the independent league Goyang Winners and Gapyeong Wales.
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Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung is also eyeing Lee In-han. He has not yet registered in the first team because he is a nurturing player, but he accompanied him for a week and checked himself. Manager Kim Tae-hyung said "He's talented. It was okay to have it,' he said, expressing his intention to give him a chance in the second half.
Thanks to his performance in the first half of the season, he was also listed in the Futures All-Star Game. It was the last Futures All-Star Game for Lee In-han, who is in his fifth year of debut. Starting next year, the team has to compete in the first-team All-Star Game. You literally need a chance to 'prove' yourself.
"Not all yet, but I think it's the first half of the year that showed the potential or potential. Looking back on the past five years, this is the most satisfying half year."
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Coach Kim Tae-hyung is wary of habitual leg kicks. For hitters such as Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, and Yoon Dong-hee, 'Power is sufficient. It's important to save the power position accurately' he used to emphasize the toe tap instead of the leg kick.
Lee In-han is the opposite. Long hit and home run are Lee In-han's values and sales points. The position is also in charge of designated hitter and corner outfielder. He is a player whose focus is on offense rather than defense.
"He told me to raise my leg rather than toe-tap and hit it with strength with a leg kick." Originally, the stance was rather narrow, but he told me to spread it out to some extent. Through the guidance of the batting coaches, I think my own batting form has been established to some extent. "My goal is to hit a lot of home runs in the second half without getting hurt."
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That can't be the only thing. Lee In-han smiled and expressed his inner feelings.
"Jeon Jun-woo's one-shot slugging power, there is an expectation that he will hit one when he enters the batter's box. I want to be that kind of player. (I)Jung Hoon and (Choi) Hang are all left-handed hitters. From the right side...Please look forward to it."
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
