Lotte Giants’ Yoo Kang-nam (31) expressed his delight at the performance of junior Lee Jung-geun (23).
Yoo Kang-nam started at third base and catcher in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League home game against SSG Landers at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a double, one walk, two RBIs, two runs scored, and one strikeout.
This raised Yoo’s batting average to 0.234 this season, up from 0.226. Behind Yoo’s bat, Lotte swept SSG 15-4 to extend its winning streak to four games.
Lotte’s main catcher, Yoo Kang-nam, was sidelined from the first team on July 29 due to a torn left adductor muscle.
After a successful three-week rehabilitation, he returned to the first team on July 29.
In his first game back in the first team after a long absence, Yoo Kang-nam made his presence felt. He drew a walk in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning to adjust his batting stroke, then followed it up with a clean hit to right field in his second at-bat in the top of the third.
In his third at-bat, Yoo’s bat was still hot. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with his team leading 3-2, he hit an RBI single with runners on first and second. It was a crucial hit that extended the lead to 4-2.
Two at-bats later, Yoo hit an RBI double in the eighth inning to give his team a 12-4 lead. He also shined on defense. In the sixth inning, he caught Choi Jeong-jeong trying to steal second base.
“It was embarrassing to have an injury after seven years, but I thought it was not a serious injury and was positive. I think it was a message from heaven to take care of my body,” Yoo said after the game.
He continued, “The rest period became the medicine. While watching the game, I felt things for myself, and it was 토토 a time for me to think, ‘What should I do when I get to the first team, and why did I do this in that situation,'” he said, recalling his injury period.
Meanwhile, Yoo Kang-nam was genuinely happy when asked about his junior, Lee Jung-geun. Lee has been on fire this season, batting .418 with a 1.115 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage), one home run and 11 RBIs. In his last 10 games, he’s batting a whopping .545.
“I was so happy,” said Yoo Kang-nam of his latest blow. (I felt like he was going to keep hitting because his timing was perfect. I was surprised.”
“I was cheering him on and hoping for the best. I was happy and thought to myself, ‘That’s cool,'” he said. Yoo Kang-nam, a senior, expressed his pride at his junior’s performance.