"The players definitely have developed a strong competitive spirit."
Jeon Jun-woo, the captain of the Lotte Giants baseball team, is the key driving force behind the team's surge in the first half of the season. As a captain, he has brought the players together and taken on the role of a problem solver in the lineup. Young players like Yoon Dong-hee, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, Hwang Sung-bin, and Son Ho-young, who emerged like a comet last year, are struggling with injuries this year. However, Jeon Jun-woo has been a steady support for Lotte with consistent performance this year.
As if the longtime nickname of Jeon Jun-woo, 'Jentran,' had arrived, he has shown performances fitting this nickname, which is a play on former Major League Baseball player Carlos Beltran’s moniker for his speed and hitting ability. He appeared in an All-Star Game wearing a 'Jentran' uniform modeled after the New York Mets uniform.
As the team's veteran, he has participated in 88 games with a batting average of .294 (96 hits in 327 at-bats), 7 home runs, 56 RBIs, an OPS of .799, and a batting average of .340 with runners in scoring position. He ranks tied for 2nd in the league for game-winning hits with 10.
He mostly played as a designated hitter, but due to injuries to the regular outfielders, there have been many games where he had to play defensively. If even Jeon Jun-woo had underperformed this year, the current 3rd place standing of Lotte would not have been possible.
On the 12th, when he met with reporters at Hanwha Life Eagles Park during the All-Star Game, Jeon Jun-woo said, "It’s good to be in 3rd place, but I hope the injured players return quickly. I think if they come back, it will create good synergy again," adding, "The number of injured players has been quite detrimental."
Despite the series of injuries, Lotte has discovered the performances of substitute players. New faces appearing at the right time have helped the team maintain its current ranking. Jeon Jun-woo preferred to refer to these substitutes as "new teeth" rather than referring to them as 'gums.' He stated, "Although we lost injured players, other players in our team were able to fulfill their roles sufficiently, which allowed us to achieve these results."
He cannot help but feel proud as a captain witnessing the players’ eagerness to seize their spots instead of remaining backups. Jeon Jun-woo mentioned, "The players have developed a strong sense of purpose and desire to work hard. Whenever there is an opening, other players push themselves to perform better, resulting in better synergy. They practice a lot indoors even after games to meet their training goals."
The driving force behind the team's 3rd place is the players' determination. Jeon Jun-woo said, "I think luck has been on our side, but I talk to the players a lot about having a sense of purpose. I honestly don’t know what has changed, but one thing is sure: there seems to be a stronger desire to win. I think that aspect has changed considerably."
With Hwang Sung-bin returning and Yoon Dong-hee, Go Seung-min, and Son Ho-young preparing to return in the second half, he is confident that they can improve even further, having maintained 3rd place even without the complete roster. The dream of postseason play, which has not occurred since 2017, is not out of reach. Jeon Jun-woo said, "You will see. I think we will do even better."
[OSEN]