Director’s regret.

Lotte Giants faced another bad news. Han Dong-hee (25), who was selected as the main third baseman, has become more difficult to play in the opening game.

Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung (57) said ahead of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League exhibition game against the Doosan Bears at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 11th, “Donghee (Han) needs four to six weeks of rehabilitation.”

In a previous game against SSG Landers on the previous day, Han Dong-hee played as the fifth batter and third baseman of his team. Han Dong-hee appeared at the batter’s box in the bottom of the fifth inning when he had a chance to hit the first and third bases with no outs, and made a one-ball-1 strike against SSG’s new pitcher Song Young-jin, before strongly swinging on the third fastball to create a foul.

However, in the process, Han Dong-hee failed to get up and fell to the ground. He couldn’t get up from his seat and complained of pain. Even manager Kim Tae-hyung came to the ground and watched his condition with a worried look. Eventually, Han Dong-hee failed to return to the batter’s box and was replaced by Lee Hak-joo, a pinch hitter, and immediately moved to Good Samsun Hospital, a hospital designated by the team.

Since it was Sunday at the time, it was difficult to get a thorough checkup at the hospital, Han Dong-hee visited the hospital again on the 11th, the next day, and was diagnosed with a ruptured right internal radiative muscle. If he undergoes four weeks of rehabilitation, he will not be able to play in the opening match against SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 23rd.

Director Kim said, “Donghee came today, and he said, ‘I think it will work soon. It doesn’t hurt.'” At the same time, he said, “It’s not that you’re not sick. You have to be able to use 100% of your strength,” and added, “He says it’s better than yesterday, but the training part says it’s four to six weeks.” He then said, “If you really feel pain after seeing the situation, you have to see it again and move next time.”

Han Dong-hee’s injury is painful for Lotte. Manager Kim chose to be the main third baseman, and he, too, has to achieve a successful ending before joining the military. Han Dong-hee, who was noted as a next-generation big hitter, played in 647 games in the first division for six seasons until last year, posting a batting average of 0.262 (539 hits in 2,058 at-bats), 75 homers and 382 RBIs, and 348 runs in OPS 0.732 (0.332 on base and 0.400 slugging percentage). He has improved every year, hitting double-digit home runs (2020-2022) for three consecutive years, and especially in 2022, he played in 29 games and recorded a batting average of 0.307 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs with an OPS of 0.817, achieving his first career batting average of .300.

However, he was disappointed last year. Han Dong-hee, who played in 108 games, recorded a batting average of 0.223 (71 hits in 319 at-bats) with five homers, 32 RBIs and 30 runs scored in an OPS of 0.583. He started off not well, recording a batting average of 0.169 during the month of April, and showed no signs of rebounding afterwards. He was also eliminated from the national team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which he thought was a “hot contender.”

With his utmost efforts, Han Dong-hee visited former major leaguers Kang Jung-ho (37) to correct his batting average along with his seniors Lee Dae-ho (retired) and Jung Hoon (37). By running a home run at a spring camp practice game in Okinawa, Japan, Han raised expectations for the 2024 season. However, as he suffered an injury just ahead of the season, a red light was turned on.

Now Lotte needs to find alternative resources. Kim brought up the names of Noh Jin-hyuk, Park Seung-wook, Kim Min-sung, and Lee Hak-joo. “Choi usually practiced second base, and Roh Jin-hyuk did not see third base either,” Kim said. “However, Min-sung, Seung-wook, and Hak-joo should come out to third base depending on the situation.”

Earlier, Lotte’s second-year outfielder Kim Min-seok also left the team due to injury. He suffered side pain during training on the 7th and was diagnosed with an internal radiative muscle injury on his right side. He is said to be scheduled to rehabilitate for about a month. At this rate, it will be difficult for him to join the opening game.

Kim joined the team as a high school graduate last year and played 129 games, playing a role like an altoran in the batting line with a batting average of 0.255 (102 hits in 400 at-bats) with three home runs, 39 RBIs, 53 runs and 16 stolen bases. In an interview at the end of the camp, Kim said, “(Kim) Min-seok saw the center fielder, and based on his physical condition, Min-seok could enter the center fielder and Reyes could go to the left fielder.” However, as Kim Min-seok was not feeling well, Kim said ahead of the game on the 9th, “Reyes will start with the center fielder.”

In addition, captain Jeon Joon-woo was also absent from the lineup in the game on Sunday. In the previous game, he was hit by a pitch in the calf. “I have muscle pain, so I don’t have to overdo it,” Kim said.

Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Ko Seung-min (left fielder), Noh Jin-hyuk (striker), Victor Reyes (designated hitter), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Kim Min-sung (third baseman), Park Seung-wook (second baseman), and Hwang Sung-bin (middle fielder) were on the starting lineup. Foreign pitcher Aaron Wilkerson will take the mound as the starting pitcher.

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