Professional baseball player Na Seung-yeop of the Lotte Giants is preparing for a return to the first team, having played first base in the Futures League.
Na Seung-yeop started as first baseman in the game against the Samsung Lions on the 20th at Gyeongsan Stadium, going 0-for-4 with 2 RBIs. He also played first base for the first time.
Lotte created a no-out, first-and-third situation in the first inning due to an error by the opposing defense and a right-field hit by Oh Chang-hyun. Na Seung-yeop scored the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field on a full count.
Lotte took a 4-0 lead in the second inning with a one-RBI hit from Lee Tae-kyung and a one-RBI triple from Oh Chang-hyun with two outs and a runner on second base. Na Seung-yeop was out, hitting a fly ball to center field on the first pitch.
In the fourth inning, Lotte extended its lead to 5-0 with a timely hit from Lee Tae-kyung with no outs and runners on first and second. With a sacrifice bunt from Oh Chang-hyun, there was one out with runners on second and third. Na Seung-yeop was out on a ground ball to first base, allowing the runner on third to score. He recorded an RBI.
In the top of the sixth inning, with one out and no runners on base, Na Seung-yeop was retired on a fly ball to left field against Lim Chang-min.
The seventh inning was disappointing. Lotte created a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs due to a walk by Kim Dong-kyu, a double from Bae In-hyuk, and a walk from Oh Chang-hyun. Na Seung-yeop was out on a ground ball to the shortstop. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Na Seung-yeop was replaced by Kim Se-min and finished the game.
Na Seung-yeop recorded a monthly batting average of .195 (16 hits in 82 at-bats) in May and was excluded from the first team roster after going 0-for-3 in the game against the SSG Landers on the 1st. His season batting average fell to .246.
However, on the 5th, he sustained an injury when a ball hit his eye during training in the second team. He experienced bleeding in the right eye and received hospitalization treatment. Fortunately, after a thorough examination, he was diagnosed with no significant abnormalities and recovered after resting for more than ten days.
Having recovered his physical condition, Na Seung-yeop returned to training and participated as a designated hitter in the Futures League game against the NC Dinos on the 19th, going 0-for-3 with 1 walk and recording 1 RBI. The game against Samsung on the 20th was his second game. He hasn't recorded any hits in the two games, but is gradually regaining his hitting form after more than two weeks of real-game absence.
[OSEN]