Hanwha catcher Choi Jae-hoon (34) started as the designated hitter for the first time this season. 

Choi Jae-hoon was named in the starting lineup as the 6th designated hitter against Hanwha in Daejeon on the 18th. He started as a catcher in all 27 games except for one game as a pinch hitter this year, but on this day, he will take a break from defense and focus on batting as a designated hitter. 

Hanwha coach Choi Won-ho said, “Choi Jae-hoon seems to have to save the defense (physically), so Park Sang-eon went in as catcher.” Choi Jae-hoon revealed the reason for the appointment as a designated hitter, saying, “I am overall okay against Lotte.” 

Choi Jae-hoon has been strong with a batting average of 30.2 ri (52 hits in 172 bats), 1 home run, 12 RBIs, and OPS .787 in 61 matches against Lotte for the past 5 years since 2019. He also showed a strong side against Han Hyun-hee with 10 hits in 27 at-bats and a batting average of 3.7. It is designated hitter according to data. 

On this day, the Hanwha Eagles selected Jeong Eun-won (2nd baseman) Roh Si-hwan (3rd baseman) Chae Eun-seong (right fielder) Kim In-hwan (1st baseman) Lee Jin-young (center fielder) Choi Jae-hoon (designated hitter) Brian O’Grady (left fielder) Park Sang-eon (catcher) Park Jung-hyun (shortstop). lineup was formed. 토스카지노

Coach Choi said, “Oh Seon-jin (who has a bad hamstring) is taking a complete break today. He has to look at the condition tomorrow as well,” he said. “The shortstop is Park Jung-hyun, who had two hits yesterday. He is in good batting condition. If we put Lee Jin-young in center field, we made a lineup with a focus on offense.” 

Hanwha lost strength in overtime in the last three games in a row. In the last 3 games, the score is 3-1-2 and only 6 points in total. Coach Choi said, “Even the first place team (Lotte) didn’t hit the bat. After laughing, he said, “We are not the only ones who didn’t get hit.” He also showed subtle confidence in his ability on the mound, saying, “The pitchers blocked it and led the game.”