He showed the best performance from his first starting appearance. Manager Kim Tae-hyoung, who has been keeping an eye on catcher Park Jae-yeob since his high school days, seems to be changing the home dynamics of the Lotte Giants.

Catcher Park Jae-yeob, who joined in the fourth round of the 2025 rookie draft, made his debut as a starter against Hanwha on the 18th, achieving a perfect performance with 2 hits out of 2 at-bats (1 home run), 3 RBIs, 2 runs, and 2 walks.

On that day, Park Jae-yeob completed the best game in his debut starting match. In the second inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, he pulled a 132 km/h changeup from Hanwha's Eom Sang-baek, blasting a three-run home run. In his third game in the first team and third at-bat, he hit a brilliant home run, bringing a smile to Manager Kim Tae-hyoung’s face. Later, Park Jae-yeob led the game by playing all nine innings. Even after the home run, he remained composed, adding 2 walks and a hit, completing a reach in all 4 at-bats.

After the game, Park Jae-yeob said, "As a 'Lotte rookie,' I came to Sajik Stadium really often. It was amazing to see Lotte players in action in the pros, and I was envious, but now that I’ve done it myself, I feel proud."

On that day, Manager Kim Tae-hyoung indicated changes in the catching roster by starting Park Jae-yeob. With injuries mounting, the team's offensive strength had significantly decreased. To address this situation, there are plans to call up Yoo Kang-nam, who has been demoted to the second team due to poor performance. His registration is expected to occur on the 19th. However, since both Yoo Kang-nam and Jeung Bo-keun are not in good physical condition, they plan to operate with a three-catcher system. If Yoo Kang-nam joins, one among Jeung Bo-keun, Son Seong-bin, and Park Jae-yeob must go down to the second team. Manager Kim Tae-hyoung praised Park Jae-yeob, noting, "Since he has been performing so well in the second team, I want to see him in today’s game. Although he lacks experience and leadership, when it comes to his defense, he is highly rated. He excels in hitting, pitching, and receiving among catchers. Watching him in practice, he possesses great qualities as a catcher."

He added, "For now, we have three catchers and will bring up Yoo Kang-nam tomorrow. There aren’t many players who can hit. We are going with three catchers, and I want to evaluate who will be sent down after watching Park Jae-yeob play today." Ultimately, Park Jae-yeob proved his potential in just one game. Manager Kim Tae-hyoung has been watching Park Jae-yeob since his high school days, and he showcased his abilities in the game. Whether it was hitting for power or managing the game, he showed everything he had. He even signaled to the pitcher during the game. Park Jae-yeob explained, "In the early stages, I was calling the signals. As we started scoring, the bench gradually began to signal as well. When the bench signaled, it seemed to align with my thoughts."

Within the three-catcher system, how much opportunity Park Jae-yeob will get is uncertain. However, it is clear that the home dynamics of Lotte have changed. Immediately, first-round drafted catcher prospect Son Seong-bin confirmed his demotion to the second team as he started against NC in the Futures League on the 19th. Park Jae-yeob survived, and Yoo Kang-nam's call-up is also a given.

This has created a situation where Park Jae-yeob can challenge the dominance of Yoo Kang-nam and Jeung Bo-keun. With his strong impression, as long as he can continue his current performance, the home dynamics of Lotte could definitely change. Since Manager Kim Tae-hyoung has recognized his talent and confirmed that he can perform in actual games, there is also a possibility that he will be given full opportunities. Expectations for significant changes hinge on the remarkable performance of Park Jae-yeob alone.

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