The complete batting order has finally been formed.
Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung expressed his anticipation for the recently assembled complete batting lineup ahead of the game against the Hanwha Eagles at the Busan Sajik Stadium on the 23rd.
Currently, Lotte is ranked 2nd in team batting average. They are recording a batting average of .2791, which is slightly lower than LG’s batting average of .2793. There were concerns earlier in the season as the batting lineup struggled to perform, but they have now risen to 2nd in team batting average. The team OPS is .743, showcasing a top-level production capability, ranking 4th.
What is encouraging is that these records were set while Lotte's core resources—"Yoon Go-na Hwang Son (Yoon Dong-hee, Ko Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, Hwang Seong-bin, Son Ho-young)"—were unable to come together due to injuries and slumps. This means it was not yet a complete roster. Hwang Seong-bin, Ko Seung-min, and Son Ho-young had to go back and forth between the 1st and 2nd teams due to injuries. Yoon Dong-hee struggled with a poor performance in the .100 range and was sent down to the 2nd team for readjustment.
Yoon Dong-hee, who recorded a batting average of .500 (12 hits in 24 at-bats), with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs in 7 games in the 2nd team, returned before the Samsung game in Daegu on the 18th, and Son Ho-young, who suffered from an inner thigh injury, recovered on the 20th during the Samsung game in Daegu.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung noted, "There are times when the team batting lineup is good and times when it is not. It is hard to say that we have come alive. It is difficult when we face good pitchers," while adding, "Now, (Son) Ho-young has come back and (Yoon) Dong-hee has returned, creating a normal lineup. Someone might not hit well, and someone might hit well. The probability has improved a bit."
Lotte set the starting lineup as Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), RAY (left fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Yoo Gang-nam (catcher), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop).
[OSEN]