I thought it would be a hit, but Lee Jae-hyun maintained his focus and made a good play. Lee Jae-hyun saved the team.
Professional baseball player Lee Jae-hyun of the Samsung Lions executed a jaw-dropping defense. He saved his team from a crisis with a super catch worthy of highlight reels.
On the 22nd against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok. In the bottom of the 8th, with no outs and runners on first and second, Lee Jae-hyun dove to catch a ball off Park Joo-hong's bat that was mis-hit to the left. Park Jin-man, the manager who was praised as the 'national shortstop' during his playing days, did not hold back on praise for Lee Jae-hyun ahead of the home game against the KIA Tigers on the 23rd. He said, "I thought it would be a hit, but Lee Jae-hyun maintained his focus and made a good play. Lee Jae-hyun saved the team."
Manager Park Jin-man's praise did not stop there. "In terms of defensive ability, he is at the top of the league. He has become more relaxed than before, and his adaptability has improved." Lee Jae-hyun has shown a somewhat sluggish performance recently, with a batting average of .182 (33 at-bats, 6 hits), 1 home run, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs scored over the last 10 games. In response, Manager Park Jin-man said, "His hitting can improve again. Since he is a young player, he can bounce back quickly, so I am not worried. He is playing a very significant role on defense."
Lee Jae-hyun, showcasing defense worthy of the major leagues, humbly said, "Since the starter Reyes is pitching so well, it wasn't a relaxed situation, so I focused more." He added, "I still think I am lacking. There were also areas of regret when I practiced defense today. Since defense relies on fundamentals, I need to pay more attention to those aspects."
Lee Jae-hyun also emphasized, "When my batting is not good, I always focus on doing well in defense. I believe that even if I hit well as a shortstop, it is meaningless if I make mistakes in defense." Regarding concerns about stamina issues, he smiled and drew the line, saying, "I haven't even played 100 games yet, so there is nothing to be tired about. It just looks that way because I am not playing well."
Lee Jae-hyun is making special efforts to regain his batting form. It is rumored that his senior from Seoul High, Choi Won-tae (pitcher), suggested going out to eat, but Lee politely declined and stayed at his lodging to focus on batting practice.
Finally, Lee Jae-hyun concluded the interview by saying, "I feel very sorry to the fans for being in the top ranks at the beginning of the season and then falling into a losing streak. I also apologize for not being able to show a good performance, and I will prepare well to rise again. I am always thankful."
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