During the ten-day adjustment period, the Futures League clearly demonstrated its narrowness. Will Lotte Giants outfielder Yoon Dong-hee (22) receive a call from manager Kim Tae-hyung right away?

Yoon Dong-hee swung a hot bat in the game against the KT Wiz in the Futures League on the 16th at the Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae, achieving 2 hits out of 3 at-bats (1 home run), 2 RBIs, and 2 runs.

On that day, Yoon Dong-hee made his appearance as the leadoff batter in the first inning but returned after a flyout to left field. However, as the leadoff batter in the third inning, he reached base with a single to center field and scored when Lee Tae-kyung hit a triple.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, tied at 2-2, he came to bat with 2 outs and a runner on first base after Kim Se-min's single to right field. Facing KT's Lee Sang-dong with 2 outs and a runner on second base, Yoon Dong-hee hit the fourth pitch on a 3-ball count, launching a two-run homer to left field. He completed a multi-hit game. After that, he did not return to the plate.

With this, Yoon Dong-hee's performance in the Futures League stands at a batting average of .500 (12 hits in 24 at-bats), 3 home runs, and 6 RBIs. By recording hits in all 7 Futures League games, he showcased that he has nothing more to prove on that stage.

Last year, Yoon Dong-hee finished with a batting average of .293 (156 hits in 532 at-bats), 14 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 97 runs scored over 141 games, becoming a starting outfielder for Lotte and a national team outfielder. However, his early season performance this year has been lackluster. Before being sent down to the Futures League, he recorded a batting average of .179 (7 hits in 39 at-bats), 1 home run, and 2 RBIs in 13 games, with an OPS of .629. He has been removed from the first team for the first time in about two years since his call-up in 2023.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung noted, "There are many thoughts. He needs to hit according to the situation, but he has been waiting too much for his own pace and hitting point, which is why he isn't succeeding. It's not about the manager’s baseball, but about baseball for the team; all team members need to think the same way and desire the same outcomes. There are certain scenarios where we hope this player can deliver, and he needs to do that," expressing his disappointment.

It is difficult to make a direct comparison between the Futures and first-team records. The gap in pitch speed, quality, and control among pitchers is significantly large. Of course, good results in the Futures League naturally serve as the basis for a first-team call-up. However, Yoon Dong-hee is already a regular player in the first team. Beyond just the records, it is necessary for him to correct and change the aspects previously pointed out by manager Kim Tae-hyung. We have no choice but to demand more from Yoon Dong-hee than just the numbers, meaning that expectations for him are even higher.

On the 17th, Yoon Dong-hee will be eligible for a first-team call-up. However, it seems manager Kim Tae-hyung has no immediate plans for a call-up. He does not place significance on the Futures records. Kim explained, "The first team is doing well. I plan to discuss it more with the staff before making a decision."

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