Standing with Son Ah-seop! Reyes, Lotte's most hit tie in the 43-year history of Lotte Club 'Wooduk' First GG 'Jeong Jo-joon' since Lee Dae-ho.

Sep 22, 2024

The match between Hanwha and Lotte at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 22nd. Lotte Reyes hit a timely RBI single in the first inning. Daejeon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.09.22/

Lotte and LG held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 19th. Reyes hit an RBI double in the fifth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.09.19/

The game between the Lotte Giants and the Hanwha Eagles at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 15th. Lotte Reyes is hitting a two-run shot with two outs and third base in the bottom of the fourth inning. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.15/

'A hit maker'Reyes engraved his name in the history of his team Lotte Giants.

Reyes had 193 hits in the season by hitting two hits (one walk) in three at-bats against the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 22nd.

Reyes, who had 191 hits before the game, led the team's first run by calling in third baseman Hwang Sung-bin with a hit in front of right field that missed his first at-bat in the top of the first inning.

In the second at-bat of the third inning as the leadoff hitter, he walked. After that, Son Ho-young's hit and Hanwha starter Weiss hit home and scored the second point.

Reyes hit a right-handed hit in his third at-bat in the top of the fourth inning and recorded his 193rd hit this season, tying Lotte's record for the most hits.

193 hits in the season were set by Son Ah-seop (currently NC Dinos) in 2017. Reyes proved again that he is a 'blessing ball' by matching Son Ah-seop in 137 games in his first year in the KBO League.

Son Ah-seop during his Lotte days. Sports Chosun DB

Reyes is also trying to set a new record for the first 200 hits and the most hits in a single season since Seo Geon-chang (then Nexen Heroes) had 201 hits in 2014. Lotte has seven games left except for the game on the day.

On the same day, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung placed Reyes forward in the second batting order. The head coach's willingness to help the new record by giving more at-bats even once is noticeable.

Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung, who met before the game, said "We placed Reyes at No. 2 under discussion with the hitting coach. No. 1 should be played by Hwang Seong-bin, and since Ko Seung-min and Son Ho-young are in the back, No. 2 should be okay", he explained.

In the game between Samsung and SSG at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 15th, SSG Herredia hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and second base to share joy. Incheon = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.09.15/

Reyes' 200 hits and new records are likely to have important implications in future Golden Glove competition. If KT Rojas and Samsung Koo Ja-wook are considered likely to be the two spots in the outfield Golden Glove on the current record, Reyes eventually has to contend with Herredia for the remaining one spot.

Currently, Reyes is one step behind SSG Landers Eredia in the competition for batting champion. Herredia has already reached 20 home runs. Reyes, on the other hand, has 15. The difference in OPS (on-base plus slugging) is also so wide that it is difficult to narrow it in a short time.

In order to overturn Reyes, a symbolic record such as 200 hits is needed. Manager Kim Tae-hyung also said, `Since they are not hitters who hit 30 homers each, I wonder if I can set a record (for Reyes)"He expressed his affection for the player.

Lotte's last Golden Glove is Lee Dae-ho, who won the 2022 Designated Batter category. In addition, Lee Dae-ho is the main character of most of the recent Lotte Golden Glove, including the first baseman in 2017 and the designated hitter in 2018. Except for Lee Dae-ho, Jeon Jun-woo in the outfielder category in 2018 is the last.

Son Ho-young played as the fourth batter for the first time since her professional debut on the day. The head coach "He's doing well this year. The batting order doesn't matter. It's important to play well."

Reyes' challenge to record a new hit is a new record that will mark the grand finale of professional baseball this season, which surpassed 10 million spectators along with KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young's challenge of 40 (homer)-40 (stealing). KIA, which has already won the regular season, has placed Kim Do-young as the first player and has begun to support him in earnest.

lunarfly@sportschosun.com