"Isn't the competition over for second base?" 40% of the exhibition game vs. 2 timely hits against Kim Kwang-hyun, and the answer is "yet."
"Isn't the competition over for second base?" 40% of the exhibition game vs. 2 timely hits against Kim Kwang-hyun, and the answer is "yet."
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The Doosan Bears' competition for second baseman, which they thought had answered in the exhibition game, seems to have "free room" left.토토사이트
Doosan had Lee Yoo-chan as the starting second baseman in the second game of the opening of the 2025 KBO League regular season against SSG Landers on the 23rd. Up until the opening game a day ago, the owner of this position was Oh Myung-jin.
Oh was the winner of the main competition for second baseman at exhibition games. At nine exhibition games, Oh hit a batting average of 0.407 (11 hits in 27 times at bat) and an on-base percentage of 0.467 each. "Watching players play, it is true that they are ahead in all aspects in terms of how they fight and respond to each other at bat," coach Lee Seung-yeop said.
However, the "main game guarantee" ended in one day. Oh received four at-bats as the starting second baseman on Tuesday, but ended up with no hit. Oh should have given him a chance, but the problem was that his opponent was left-handed ace Kim Kwang-hyun. Oh could have been an easy opponent as he did not have a hit in the first division to Kim, who does not easily give a fastball match.
"Myeong-jin played yesterday, but chances are high that he will change depending on his pitching personality," manager Lee Seung-yeop said ahead of the match on Sunday. "(The starting pitcher for SSG is left-handed) Kim Kwang-hyun and Myung-jin seems to be very nervous. It starts from the bench."
Lee Yoo-chan seized the opportunity that came only two days after the opening. Lee Yoo-chan, who played as eighth hitter and second baseman instead of Oh Myung-jin, had two hits in four times at bat. Notably, both hits were timely hits. With the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Lee Yoo-chan hit a timely hit by hitting Kim Kwang-hyun's third pitch. In the sixth inning, he played a full count match with Kim Kwang-hyun, who met him for the third time, and again connected his sixth fastball with a timely hit to the left. On the day, Kim Kwang-hyun and SSG's mound lost only two runs due to Lee Yoo-chan's two RBIs.
In the beginning, Lee Seung-yeop considered using the platooning system (a method in which left and right hitters are replaced alternately depending on the type of pitcher they are playing against each other). "We will watch over Lee Yoo-chan, a right-handed batter, and Oh Myung-jin, a left-handed batter, during a trial match. There is a greater chance that Lee Yoo-chan will be selected as the starting member. Oh also showed great performance in the camp," Lee said. "We can use the two as platooning system depending on the opponent team's pitcher." However, Oh Myung-jin hit hard at exhibition games afterwards, and Lee only posted a batting average of 0.222. As Lee Seung-yeop, the coach had no choice but to give Oh a chance first.
Oh Myung-jin is still in the lead in the main competition. Lee Yoo-chan, however, has "room" for left-handed pitchers. "Since right-handed pitchers will continue to be deployed (from the opposing team) from Saturday, I think he will take turns playing," Lee said.
Asked by reporters whether right-handed Lee Yoo-chan will be the starting pitcher if a left-handed pitcher comes out, Lee Seung-yeop said, "If Oh Myung-jin is in good condition, he can play. Since he failed (in the opening game), I think Yoo-chan will play (in today's game) in the direction of refresh (in the next game) and he will play (in the players' condition)." Platoon can be applied, but if Oh Myung-jin's batting condition improves enough to expect him to target left-handed pitchers, he can also have an opportunity to become a regular starting pitcher.
Oh Myung-jin himself is wary of being a "fixed main player." He told reporters ahead of the match against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok on Wednesday, "We only get a chance at the beginning of the season. We have to do better in the future to keep our position. There is no excitement because it is important to go all the way."
For Oh Myung-jin, it seems important that his first hit comes out. As there is no first-team hit yet, the opening two consecutive games will be difficult with the first and second starters. Doosan, whose batting line has been below expectations for two games, also desperately needs his performance.