In a crucial extra inning situation, a rookie who has only been on the first team for a month showcased an impressive defense that erased the crisis. Lotte Giants rookie infielder Park Chan-hyung is making his presence felt not only in hitting but also in defense.
Lotte secured a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory against Doosan Bears in a game held at Busan Sajik Stadium on the 9th after an 11-inning battle. They had been leading 3-1 until two outs in the ninth inning but allowed both a tie and a comeback. However, they succeeded in tying the game again due to an error by the fielder in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
As the extra innings began, every moment was crucial. In the final inning, the 11th, Lotte sent the leadoff hitter Park Jun-soon with an infield hit to shortstop. Being a one-run game, Doosan naturally prepared a bunt strategy. Park Gye-beom positioned himself to bunt. Lotte also set up strong pressure to prepare for the opponent's bunt. The goal for Lotte was to prevent the runner on first base from reaching scoring position.
In a situation where even a slight mistake could lead to a major crisis, rookie infielder Park Chan-hyung, who was on third base, showcased his strong defensive skills. Park Chan-hyung boldly dashed forward. When Park Gye-beom's bunt bounced, he was already out in front of home plate. After catching the bouncing ball with a jump, he quickly made the throw. He boldly chose second base and erased the lead runner on first base. Park Chan-hyung’s daring dash and incredible throw killed the momentum of Doosan.
Following that, with one out and a runner on first base, a slow-rolling ground ball from Kang Seung-ho to third base was decided at second base, successfully erasing the lead runner on first base once again. It was really a razor-thin margin. Although it was a potentially dangerous throw to second base, Park Chan-hyung's bold judgment paid off because the result was an out.
Ultimately, Lotte did not allow any runners to reach scoring position in the 11th inning and was able to seal a dramatic victory with Lee Ho-jun's walk-off hit in the bottom of the 11th.
After the game, Park Chan-hyung reflected on the defensive situation, saying, "In the first bunt defense situation, I caught the ball on a one bounce and thought I had to go for second base. During the process of catching the ball, the call from (Son) Seong-bin for second base helped with the bold decision. Also, thanks to the advice I received during the bunt defense training from Coach Moon Gyu-hyun before the game, I was able to react with my body."
He continued, "In the second play, since it was a tie game in extras, I had a strong thought that I couldn't let a runner get into scoring position. When I caught the ball, the runner on first base was about three-quarters of the way and I thought I could definitely make the play."
Until about two months ago, he was continuing his career in an independent league and has only been a first-team player for a month. Park Chan-hyung, who transitioned from a developmental player to an official player, has quickly made a mark in the first team with his reputation as a "game-ready" player. He initially showed strong contact ability in hitting rather than defense. After his debut, he left a strong impression by recording the KBO’s most consecutive hits record with four straight hits and is currently maintaining a batting average of .400. He has achieved a batting average of .400 (16 hits in 40 at-bats), 1 home run, 5 RBIs, and 8 runs scored, with an OPS of .967 over 15 games.
Although he has not yet been fully tested in defense, he has shown that he can handle all positions including second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman, while displaying bold defense, which has increased his potential for utilization in the future. Even when injured players return, if Park Chan-hyung continues to present himself as he is now, he is likely to become a first-team player with solid competitiveness. All of this is an achievement he has accomplished just two months after signing with the team and one month after becoming a first-team player.
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