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| The very last time I've been interviewed. Reporter Kim Young-rok |
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| photo courtesy of Lotte Giants |
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| photo courtesy of Lotte Giants |
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"I think I can see some baseball from this year. Is it a little late? It starts now."
The face of a player in his 30s participating in the closing camp is bright. It's not common.
Choi Hang (30) of the Lotte Giants is participating in the closing camp at the second-tier stadium in Sangdong, Gimhae.
While major players such as Son Ho-young, Ko Seung-min, and Na Seung-yeop suffered from some minor injuries, they filled the gap well. He played 72 more games (143 at-bats) this year than he played in the past three years for his former team SSG Landers (70 games and 138 at-bats). The batting average of .25 OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.596 is a little disappointing to be satisfied, but he has played first, second, and third bases this season, creating decisive scenes several times.
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| photo courtesy of Lotte Giants |
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It is a performance that far exceeds expectations at the time of joining. He is not a shortstop agent, but there seems to be no room in the infield consisting of Son Ho-young, Ko Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop. However, it was a year that showed that condition is bound to go up and down, and that he has the ability to dig through gaps or buy rest at any time. He proved that he survived for 12 years even though he was selected in the eighth round (70th overall) of the 2012 rookie draft.
dream of another leap forward. Choi Hang said "As I met coach Kim Min-jae again this year, I started to see some details. Should I say a picture is drawn? It is the biggest harvest coming to Lotte. It seems to fit Lotte well. I should have come to Lotte sooner, he said with a big smile.
Through the rise shown in the camp, he was impressed by head coach Kim Tae-hyung, and he gained confidence as his appearance continued in April. Choi Hang "It's hard to be satisfied. The positive part is big. On the contrary, it wasn't bad, but there was also a feeling of disappointment. In fact, I was in a hurry at the beginning of the season, but getting the opportunity made me feel relaxed. I think I can do better next year."
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| photo courtesy of Lotte Giants |
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"(Yoon Dong-hee, Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, etc.) Didn't young players do very well this year. He was really cool and good, but since he was still young, he had physical or injury problems. There's also a part where you hit the wall. The tension of preparing for such a situation was also interesting. Isn't it the strong team that spends the time well so that it doesn't show that there is such a gap. I paid a lot of attention to that."
The most intense game was also the match against the Busan NC Dinos on August 6. With the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth inning, NC Kwon Hee-dong's slightly cut third base hit was snatched with an accurate jump catch. Choi Hang said "It was a difficult hit because I had a little drive, but I thought I won the moment I entered my glove. I really liked the feeling of saving the team's crisis," he smiled. It is even more difficult to forget because I got my daughter Harin the day before.
However, joy also ended the season briefly with an internal oblique muscle injury obtained in mid-August. This is why we are determined to have a healthier year next year.
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| photo courtesy of Lotte Giants |
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SSG is a team full of veterans such as Choo Shin-soo, Choi Jung-kyung, and Park Jong-hoon. Lotte had Jeon Joon-woo, Jung Hoon and Kim Sang-soo, but it is relatively young and it is the timing for low-year players such as Yoon Dong-hee, Na Seung-yup and Ko Seung-min to come up. Choi Hang had a role to play. He is a young but mature junior. I've asked a lot, too. It's never quieter or quieter than it looks. He is talkative and lively."
Choi will stay in Busan during the off-season. While increasing my time with my daughter, I expressed my strong will, saying, "I plan to upgrade myself.'
"Watching this Red Fan Festival, I realized how much love Lotte has received. We have to go to fall baseball next year, and we have to win the Korean Series. I hope we win and have a parade in downtown Busan."
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
