It was essentially a first-string 1.5 lineup that endured the first half. Nevertheless, the Lotte Giants of the Korean Professional Baseball League recently had one of the best first halves they could remember. Having overcome numerous decisive moments, they finished in third place, confident they could improve further.
Lotte concluded the first half with 47 wins, 39 losses, and 3 ties, achieving a win rate of .547. They ended the first half in third place, 5.5 games behind the leader Hanwha. It was an unprecedented first half. For the first time in 13 years since 2012, they finished the first half in third place or higher.
Above all, it is an achievement made in a situation where all the key lineup members were absent. Lotte pledged to carefully manage injuries ahead of this season. However, injuries arising during games or training sessions throughout the season are hard to control. Ultimately, since May, over half of the starting lineup, including Yoon Dong-hee, Son Ho-young, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Jang Du-seong, were sidelined for a while due to injuries and couldn't return. The players who couldn’t participate at the end of the first half were Yoon Dong-hee, Son Ho-young, and Go Seung-min.
Nevertheless, Lotte created victories despite the arduous process. They scraped by and managed to secure each win. They had to call up second-team players due to the numerous injuries in the first team, with some saying, 'There are no players in the second team,' and these players became great contributors in holding the team together. Overall skills and abilities may be lacking compared to first-team players, but their passion and eagerness exceeded that, and coach Kim Tae-hyoung also managed to create a sustaining strength by utilizing them appropriately.
In batting, while still insufficient, outfielders Kim Dong-hyeok and Han Seung-hyun filled in for the absent starters in defense and baserunning. Infielders Han Tae-yang and Park Chan-hyung also performed above expectations in both offense and defense. Notably, Park Chan-hyung, who joined the professional league after a stint in the independent league late in the first half, showcased his presence. Veteran Jung Hoon and Kim Min-sung's supporting roles also cannot be overlooked.
In the pitching lineup, while starter Park Se-woong has been struggling, the performance of new foreign player Alex Gamboa has provided a breath of fresh air. Gamboa won the monthly MVP award in June as soon as he joined as a replacement player. Lee Min-seok settled in as a starter based on his fastball clocked at 155 km/h, and left-handed fireballer Hong Min-ki, who switched between starting and bullpen, showcased noteworthy presence as a key player. The returning Choi Jun-yong and the revival of Jeong Cheol-won also contributed to supporting Lotte.
Coach Kim Tae-hyoung admitted, 'Finishing third now makes it seem like we can do well, but from the coach's perspective, the end of the first half was quite unstable. If Reyes and Jeon Jun-woo don't perform well in the batting lineup, we had to scrape to earn runs. The picture I see as a coach is actually very grim.' He also noted, 'This is the first season I have been a coach where so many players have gotten injured at once.'
However, 'It seems like we have some good energy. The young players have stepped up and performed well. The replacement players have done exceptionally well. I feel that the depth has strengthened. I think we only have better things to look forward to,' and expressed confidence that the team could become more solid in the second half when the starting players return.
Jeon Jun-woo also encouraged the young players who have supported the team, saying, 'It didn't feel right to refer to the players currently playing as the 'gums' of our team. The players stepping up now are performing exceptionally well and are indispensable.'
Although the lineup is set to welcome back players who missed the first half, the key point for the second half is the revival of starter Park Se-woong and the management of bullpen fatigue. While the homegrown starting pitchers, including Lee Min-seok and Na Gyun-an, are holding steady, if Park Se-woong continues to struggle, the team cannot advance further. The hope for Park Se-woong's revival is fervent.
The bullpen faced increased anxiety as closer Kim Won-jung was unable to participate in games due to shoulder discomfort at the end of the first half. The bullpen showed signs of fatigue, despite the hard work of players like Jeong Hyeon-su and Kim Kang-hyun who weren't afraid of tough jobs. For key players like Choi Jun-yong and Jeong Cheol-won to remain healthy, the effort of other pitchers is required, with coach Kim Tae-hyoung identifying Hong Min-ki as a vital resource for the bullpen in the second half. He emphasized, 'Among the pitchers, Hong Min-ki has played a significant role in the team. Hong Min-ki will become more effective throwing in the middle innings. It should be easier to manage. With four winning pitchers, we can't always have all four ready. They could get fatigued from consecutive pitches or develop muscle tightness. When that happens, if Hong Min-ki can step up, it would be much more manageable.'
In concluding the first half with a losing series against Doosan in the final three games, they recorded two consecutive losing series. However, looking at the entire first half, there were more positive aspects. While approaching cautiously, the entire organization is confident that things can improve in the second half. The prospect of advancing to fall baseball for the first time in eight years is also slowly coming into view.
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