"This is proof that the preparations have gone well."
Park Jin-man, the manager of the Samsung Lions who received praise as the 'national shortstop' during his active career, said this about infielder Yang Woo-hyun, who showcased a stellar defense during the game against the Lotte Giants on the 20th.
The 2nd inning of the match was tied 0-0 during Lotte's turn. With one out and no runners on base, Jung Hoon stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat. In a 2 balls and 0 strikes count against Samsung's starting pitcher Kim Dae-ho, he hit a fastball (143 km) on the third pitch deep into the 3-4 hole. Shortstop Yang Woo-hyun quickly fielded the ball and made a running throw to first base to get the out.
SBS Sports commentator Lee Soon-cheol, who provided commentary for the game that day, said, "He showed an amazing defense. It was such great defense that it deserved a thumbs up."
Ahead of the game against Lotte on the 22nd, manager Park Jin-man met with reporters and commented on Yang Woo-hyun's stellar defense, saying, "Yang Woo-hyun made an out with a running throw, and it was truly a wonderful sight. This is proof that the preparations have gone well," adding, "I expect him to perform well as a backup."
Samsung, featuring 'green blood's ace' Won Tae-in as the starting pitcher, lined up with center fielder Kim Ji-chan, right fielder Kim Seong-yoon, left fielder Koo Ja-wook, first baseman Lewin Diaz, designated hitter Park Byeong-ho, second baseman Ryu Ji-hyeok, catcher Kim Jae-seong, third baseman Jeon Byeong-woo, and shortstop Yang Do-geun.
Kang Min-ho was excluded from the starting lineup after experiencing symptoms of stiffness in his neck. According to manager Park Jin-man, he can barely turn his neck. He faced a challenging situation as a pinch hitter that day.
Infielder Lee Jae-hyun, who felt discomfort in his right hamstring, was left off the starting roster as a precaution, but manager Park Jin-man stated that he could appear as a pinch hitter depending on the situation.
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