“I absolutely need it this year.”
At the beginning of this season, a high-ranking official from the Lotte club mentioned that second-year outfielder Yoon Dong-hee (20) was included in the team management plan and that he should play an important role.
In fact,스포츠토토 Lotte has been preparing for Yoon Dong-hee’s military enlistment since last year. After last season, he also applied for the Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangmu). Park Se-woong, Han Tae-yang, Cho Se-jin, Choo Jae-hyeon, and Lee Kang-joon (currently Kiwoom) prepared for enlistment as managing directors. However, although he passed the first screening, his name was not on the list of finalists. Park Se-woong gave up enlisting, but only Yoon Dong-hee was eliminated.
Afterwards, the club looked into Yoon Dong-hee’s enlistment in the military in various ways, including active duty. I was worried. I also considered the application for commercial affairs, which requires enlistment in December. However, the club delayed Yoon Dong-hee’s military service. A high-ranking official from the club said, “This year, we need Yoon Dong-hee right away. Except for Shin Yun-hoo, there is no right-handed outfielder on our team. Yoon Dong-hee is needed and will help in some way,” he said, emphasizing the need for Yoon Dong-hee.
Yoon Dong-hee, who underwent surgery to remove bone fragments in his elbow last fall, rehabilitated and trained at the spring camp this year and bombed the 2nd Army. He played 10 games with a batting average of 4.3 6 Lee (17 hits in 39 bats), 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.136, and was called up ahead of the game against Changwon NC on the 23rd of last month.
As soon as he was called up, Donghee Yoon showed off his talent. Yoon Dong-hee, who played as a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th inning, went on base with a right-handed hit. Afterwards, against veteran closer Lee Yong-chan, he got a push walk that created a 5-3 final score in the 9th inning. At the same time as she was called up to the first team, she became a hero, and she served as a crucial starting point for 9 consecutive victories.
After that, it was difficult for her to get a chance to play, as she was overshadowed by established starters. It was difficult to confirm her explosive momentum in the second team, as she was on occasion. Waiting for an opportunity to come The elbow pain of Ahn Kwon-soo, who became a lucky player in the Lotte batting line this year as a discharged student, was an opportunity for Yoon Dong-hee. On the 10th and 11th, he started for two consecutive days against Doosan Sajik and recorded 3 hits and 1 RBI in 7 at-bats. In particular, the match on the 11th was able to confirm Yoon Dong-hee’s spirit and fighting spirit.
In the 6th inning, Jeon Jun-woo’s right-handed hit and Han Dong-hee’s double hit second and third base, and Yoo Gang-nam’s timely hit made it 3-5. Yoon Dong-hee appeared at the chance of 1st and 3rd base safely. However, Doosan Park Chi-guk’s foul ball hit his left knee on the second pitch. He lay there for a while complaining of pain. However, he showed fighting spirit by standing up like a tumbler again. He picked out 3 balls and continued to the full count match, and hit a 145km fastball outside the 6th pitch and hit the right time hit, making the Sajik Stadium go wild. Yoon Dong-hee roared and set the stage for a 6-5 comeback. The score was tied at 6-6 at the beginning of the 8th inning, but in the end, Noh Jin-hyeok’s finishing double in the 10th inning made it 7-6.
[OSEN=Busan, Correspondent Seok-Woo Lee] Lotte Giants’ Yoon Dong-hee catches Yang Chan-yeol’s well-hit ball in the top of the 10th inning and throws it out, receiving congratulations from coach Jeon Jun-ho. 2023.05.11 / foto0307@osen.co.kr
In the defense of right field, in the top of the 8th inning, with 1 out, 1st and 2nd bases, he chased and kicked Sue-bin’s big hit in the middle right. It was not easy to hit a ball that went behind his head because it was a forward defense situation, but he kicked it with speed. Even in the top of the 10th inning, the lead hitter Yang Chan-yeol’s big batted ball was chased to the end and caught, blocking the crisis. Although he joined as an infielder and turned to the outfield, he lacked experience in less than a year, but as a ‘tool guy’, he made full use of his talents in defense.
The outfield starters that Lotte initially thought of are suffering from injuries. Seongbin Hwang left the line due to a torn ligament in his ankle, and Kwon Soo Ahn had to take care of his elbow condition. However, even if they recover their physical condition, there is no guarantee that they will recklessly return to the starting position. Hwang Seong-bin’s vacancy is well filled by Kim Min-seok, and Ahn Kwon-soo’s unexpected injury vacancy is being filled by Yoon Dong-hee.
Captain An Chi-hong said, “I practiced so much that I thought that if the players couldn’t play, they could make a fortune. That’s why players seem to do their best.” He said that the atmosphere was formed to play and contribute to the team in some way.
Currently, Lotte’s upward trend is proceeding without depending on anyone. The virtuous circle of competition changed the performance itself. Yoon Dong-hee, who bombed the 2nd Army and came up to the 1st Army, is also participating in this atmosphere. No matter how much Ahn Kwon-soo contributed as a leadoff during the month of April, he could be threatened at any time if he was away. Yoon Dong-hee, who made Lotte postpone his military enlistment plan, is making his name known as a person who makes his seniors nervous, and is creating a healthy competition.