A 10,000-year-old prospect." He knows it's his last chance.
The Lotte Giants officially announced on the 30th, "We conducted a trade between LG Twins infielder Son Ho-young and pitcher Woo Kang-hoon. We pushed for this trade to strengthen the depth of right-handed infielders who are capable of hitting."
Lotte remains at the bottom of the list of the 10 teams with a batting average of 0.228 until Sunday's game. His batting average, which started to drop in the middle of exhibition games, is not showing any signs of rebounding. Outfielders are struggling, but veteran players such as Roh Jin-hyuk and Kim Min-sung, who should be the center of the team, are showing sluggish performance. For this reason, Lotte decided to leave the team, as the absence of Han Dong-hee, who was out due to injury due to ruptured intraperitoneal muscles, was felt even greater.
Lotte has been agonizing over the right-handed infielder since the change of the head coach, including the general manager, last year. Han Dong-hee's absence from the opening game was an unexpected variable, but he had been considering recruiting resources for the right-handed infielder early on because he was set to serve in the military from June anyway. For this reason, Lotte also recruited Kim Min-sung through a "sign-and-trade" at the end of the stove league, and Han Dong-hee's injury pushed the time to solve the problem faster, and he took the move in five games after the opening.
It is clear why Lotte even hired Son Ho-young when it gave up a fireballer, a side arm that throws fast balls over 150 kilometers. The move is aimed at resolving the thirst for right-handed hitters and lack of slugging. As such, Lotte made a trade that looked more realistic than future. It aims to secure a postseason ticket that it had not been able to step on for six years. Therefore, although LG did not see the light of day, expectations on Son Ho-young are by no means small. This could be a clear opportunity for Son.
Ahead of the game on Thursday, manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "Son Ho-young is powerful and fast-paced as a right-handed hitter. He was always expected to play as a player. However, he was not able to play as a starting member of LG, so I asked manager Yeom Kyung-yeop to do so. When I started the exhibition game, my team's bat did not fit very well. Min-sung and Jung-hoon (Kim) are in the right-handed batter side of the infield, but most of the main hitters are left-handed hitters. I have seen him consistently, but my coaches actively recommended him (Son Ho-young). Son said, "I can play second and third base, but I am thinking of using him as a third baseman for now."
It was quite a busy few hours for Son. Suddenly, upon hearing the news of the trade, Son met with the LG team and immediately moved to Busan with his luggage. As he had too much luggage, he was behind the wheel himself. After the first training session in the Lotte Giants' uniform on Sunday, he had a long-term conversation with his coach, Ko Young-min, and made his name on the starting lineup as the sixth batter of the third baseman. He also had an interview with reporters.
When asked about the news of the trade, Son Ho-young told reporters after training and signing autographs, "I thought it was a good opportunity. When I said hello to them at the end, I felt a little sad. All LG players felt sorry for the trade. I felt even more emotional as all the juniors including (Kim) Hyun-soo, (Oh) Ji-hwan, (Park) Dong-won, (Park) Hae-min were disappointed. It wasn't that long, but I think I grew attached a lot for the past five years."
Son also had time to explain about her tears. Son reportedly shed tears after the news of the trade deal broke out. "I didn't cry that much. I just cried a little bit," Son said. "I didn't cry that much. It wasn't like I was sobbing. I just got teary-eyed. Now that she's leaving, I felt emotional when she said goodbye." Soon, however, she said, "Let's just pretend we cried."
Although he suddenly changed his uniform, he will likely have enough time to adjust to the team. That's why there are so many people who played with him at LG. "At first, (Kim) Min-sung called me, and then (Yoo) Kangnam (Yoo) called me," Sohn Ho-young said. "And then there are Coach Lim Hoon and Coach Kim Min-ho. So, I came down to Busan in a good mood. It's not as awkward as I thought, but I think I should take good care of the seniors and the younger ones first," he said with a smile.
Son Ho-young also knows better than anyone else that this trade is an opportunity for him. "I am so grateful to (Kim Tae-hyung) coach. Now I think I only have to show what I have to do. I came here thinking that it was really my last opportunity when I came to Busan. At LG, seats were almost gone, but now that I have a good opportunity again, I think I need to settle down. However, I don't think I should be too greedy or urgent. The coach trusted me and brought me, but I don't think I should feel more pressure because of that. I will do what I always do," Son said. 스포츠토토
Son Ho-young, who failed to make the roster of LG's spring camp for the first team this year, how is he now? "I couldn't go to the first team camp, so I joined the second team camp and prepared well. LG also gave me a lot of consideration, so I think I prepared well without any injuries. So my current condition is not bad. I don't think I did well, such as getting injured (because of what I wanted to show you). I will not be too greedy. I will hit the ball when it comes, and secure it well," Son said. "I will play baseball without getting intimidated. That is what I have always thought. And even if I get nervous, I will not show up. I will play baseball without hesitation."
Lastly, Son Ho-young said, "LG fans said a lot of good things through SNS. And it was good that Lotte fans also welcomed me a lot. I left LG, but I was able to come in a good mood. I know there are many fans of Woo Kang-hoon, who was traded with me, but I hope the trade goes well with each other," but he clenched his fists hard, saying, "But since I came to Lotte, I will do better."