"Taking it easy brings good luck."
SSG's star hitter Han Yoo-seom broke his silence in just one day and led his team to victory with a powerful performance. On the 2nd at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, he started as the cleanup hitter in the 2025 professional baseball game against the Kia Tigers, achieving 2 hits in 2 at-bats, 1 walk, 2 RBIs, and scoring 2 runs, playing a key role in the 8-5 victory.
He was hot right from his first at-bat in the first inning. After two outs, Choi Jeong drew a walk and blasted a double to the right field. Immediately after, Ko Myung-jun hit a timely single to center field, taking the lead 2-0. After Patrick Wisdom hit a solo home run to reduce the deficit, Han Yoo-seom connected with a changeup in the top of the 3rd inning, launching a 125-meter two-run homer.
It was a game-changing blow. In the 4th inning, he got on base with a hit-by-pitch, laying the groundwork for additional runs. All three times he reached base ended in scoring. On this day, KIA's starting pitcher Lee Dohyun, who made his debut, could not contain Han Yoo-seom, giving up 4 runs in the process. However, he left the game due to pain in his pinky toe from being hit by a pitch and underwent a precision examination. The X-ray results revealed it was just a simple bruise.
He has been on an upward trend since June. Until May, he had a batting average of .249 with 3 home runs and 24 RBIs, with an OPS of .708. In June, his batting average improved to .313 with 5 home runs and 12 RBIs, and an OPS of .866, leading the lineup. The previous day, he went hitless in 4 at-bats, but on this day, he produced 2 extra-base hits, including a home run, quickly recovering his pace.
Han Yoo-seom said, "I hit a fastball in my first at-bat. I thought they wouldn't throw fastballs easily in my second at-bat. Luckily, a breaking ball came right to me and became a home run. Once I hit it, it felt refreshing to hit a home run. I need to hit a lot while I'm in good form, but it's a shame I got hit by a pitch. I tried to run subtly, but it hurt a bit," he smiled.
Regarding his upward trend since June, he explained, "I am paying attention to my contact. I tend to swing hard. It's true that my contact rate has dropped, but I'm thinking according to the count depending on the situation. I try to swing lightly when practicing. I'm not quite at 100% yet, but it seems like sometimes I manage to hit one. I’m utilizing that feeling well."
He added, "I don't worry too much about my batting average and I'm thankful every time I play. I've made a lot of changes, but the sport of baseball really depends on luck. When it’s not my day, no matter how hard I try, it doesn't work. So I've been trying to relax, always preparing the same way, and not overthinking it, and that has brought me some good luck lately," he said with a bright expression.
Finally, he conveyed his regret about the team's poor hitting. "I'm very sorry to the fans that our batting hasn't been good. I often think about why we can't hit like this, but I really don't know. I'm not sitting idly by; I'm working very hard and preparing a lot. It seems that mental factors play a significant role. Since the bat isn't performing well, I feel more pressure and tension in scoring situations, and this accumulates and continues. I will get better," he pledged.
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