'Our Diaz has changed.'

Foreign hitter Lewin Diaz of the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has let go of his desire for home runs. Instead, he focused on hitting for base hits.

Diaz achieved his fifth multi-hit game of the season against Lotte in Daegu on the 20th. His left field single in the 2nd inning and left-center hit in the 9th inning stood out as both were driven hits.

After the game against KIA in Daegu was canceled due to rain on the 22nd, manager Park Jin-man met with reporters and noted, "There are many players in the team with excellent power-hitting ability, but Diaz tends to focus too much on home runs, so I asked during our meeting on the 19th that hitting for singles when a single is needed, not just home runs, is important dependent on the situation."

He added, "Previously, when Diaz came to bat, the defensive formation shifted to the right, but now with driven hits emerging, the opposing defensive formation will also change," expressing hope for a positive effect.

Manager Park Jin-man also expressed optimism, saying, "Last year, I thought he was purely a pull hitter, but after our meeting, he started hitting for base hits. I expect he will produce more good hits going forward."

Generally, what is expected from foreign hitters is power rather than accuracy. Diaz also wanted to contribute to the team's offense by hitting home runs, but following manager Park Jin-man's advice, he plans to focus on team hitting rather than solely on power.

Manager Park Jin-man remarked, "If you only focus on hitting home runs, your accuracy will deteriorate, and you will inevitably increase your Samjin. When you’re not feeling good, you have to create driven hits to find your timing," adding, "Diaz is the type who takes this well. I was wondering whether to say something, but it seems he has been good at picking pitches lately."

Meanwhile, foreign pitcher Ariel Huardo, who has been distanced from luck this season, showcased his skills in the home game against Lotte on the 20th, pitching 6 innings with 3 earned runs (5 hits — 2 home runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts), but failed to add to his win tally due to a lack of support from the offense.

Huardo might be upset, but he left a message on his social media stating, "I will dedicate 100% for my team," which brought a quiet touch of emotion.

In response, manager Park Jin-man stated, "Huardo played an important role as a No. 1 starter. The team atmosphere could have worsened, but the foreign player took the lead in moving things forward. Now in his third year in the KBO, he has the ability to take on such a role and is adjusting well."

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