The 2024 season began with high expectations and a new manager. However, the team faced a setback after failing to win a fall baseball title for the seventh consecutive year.
Although the regular season is not yet over, Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung is already preparing for his second year. The timetable in his head has already begun to spin, from this year’s final camp to next year’s spring training and season opener.
The most positive factor for Lotte this year has been the explosion of potential from the so-called “Yoon Go-Na-Hwang,” who has established himself as the team’s best hitter, as well as the young backbone of the batting lineup, including Yoon Dong-hee, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yup, and Hwang Sung-bin. Coach Kim Tae-hyung was satisfied enough to say, “The batting lineup is now somewhat complete.”
The performance of the foreign trio has also been remarkable. Wilkerson has started 31 games this season, the most of any starter in the league. He hasn’t missed a start. His 189⅔ innings are second in the league behind Keum Hurado (190⅓). He has a solid 11-8 record with a 3.99 ERA. Barnes, despite missing six to seven weeks with an injury, has been a solid one-two punch, going 9-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 24 games and 145⅓ innings. Reyes is on pace to reach 200 hits.
Lotte will have to think carefully about whether to re-sign the three players.
Reyes has the full support of his manager, so he is expected to re-sign. Barnes is expected to re-sign because he has the support of his manager, 파워볼실시간 while Wilkerson’s age is considered to be a hindrance. Above all, there is an urgent need for an ace who can reliably take charge of one game like Kia’s Nail, KT’s Cuevas, and NC’s Hart. Still, Kim Tae-hyung said, “The foreigners did their part. They are hard to find,” he said, expressing satisfaction.
In the end, Lotte’s fall baseball failures this year have been centered on shaky mounds and roster injuries. A number of veterans, rookies, and middle relievers, including Yoo Kang-nam, who was a candidate to start, Shim Jae-min, Choi Joon-yong, Choi Yi-joon, and Jeong Sung-jong, who was supposed to be a key part of the bullpen, went down. In addition, Go Seung-min and Son Sung-bin underwent surgery shortly after the season ended. The diagnosis was that Go Seung-min would need three months and Son Sung-bin four months for treatment and rehabilitation.
However, the coach is staying as positive as possible.
“Except for Shim Jae-min, who hasn’t reported anything yet, none of the players have any problems joining next year’s spring training,” he said. Yoo Kang-nam has already started rehabilitation, and Choi Joon-yong has resolved his shoulder impingement syndrome and promised to play. Go Seung-min and Son Sung-bin will also undergo surgery and rehabilitation to prepare for the new season instead of the Premier12 Taegeukmark.
Assuming that Koo Seung-min and Kim Won-joong, who will be free agents this winter, stay, and the shoulders of veterans like Kim Sang-soo and Han Hyun-hee, who were in charge of the bullpen this year, are a little lighter, the team is confident that it can break the password of “fall baseball failure” next year.
