AG Three Musketeers Spurred by Gold Medal Dream of Reproducing Resignation Penalty
In a thrilling moment that is hard to come once in my life, I was stimulated a lot. Now, he is determined to achieve his dream of winning the championship by wearing Lotte's uniform.
In the process of the national baseball team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games heading for the gold medal, Lotte's three generals had a significant stake.
Na Kyun-an, who was honored to be selected for the national team three years after switching from catcher to pitcher, made his impressive senior team debut in a group match against Thailand, showing perfect pitching in four scoreless innings. Park Se-woong, who joined as a wild card and became the oldest member of the national team, played a big role in South Korea's final with six scoreless innings in the Super Round match against Japan.
On top of that, Yoon Dong-hee's performance, who dramatically joined the national team a day before the call-up, was simply brilliant. Yoon Dong-hee, who quickly established himself as the third batter of the national team, has a batting average.He confidently led the gold medal by posting 435 (10 hits in 23 times at bat) with one home run and six RBIs.
◆ Why Park Se-woong, the 28-year-old oldest, actively moved in the dugout
This year's Asian Games national team was selected with age and annual limits. In a word, it was a competition that marked a generational change. In addition, up to three wild cards can be selected. Park Se-woong, who joined the national team as a wild card, became the oldest player in the team even though he was in his 20s.
Park Se-woong was not just holding on to his weight in the dugout because he was called the "oldest." He also took the lead in the dugout and shouted "fighting" to raise the team atmosphere.
Park Se-woong said, "It's a short-term game and I haven't played since the match against Japan, so all I can do was to raise the atmosphere," adding, "I think I intentionally tried to keep the atmosphere from falling as much as possible because they are young players, so the atmosphere can rise and fall on one play."
Park Se-woong, who previously played for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team, said, "It was a competition that I went out with my seniors at the Olympics and WBC. In the WBC, (Kim) Hyun-soo claimed, and in the pitching group, (Yang) Hyun-jong, (Kim) Kwang-hyun, and (Lee) Yong-chan were the eldest brothers. If I think about it now, the responsibility and burden must have been great, but I felt that I led the young players well," he said, adding that he was able to understand the seniors' feelings through the Asian Games.
Park Se-woong is scheduled to take the mound as a starting pitcher against Doosan Bears in Sajik on the 11th. It is also Lotte's final game at home this season. "I think I'm throwing it in the final home game after a long time," Park Se-woong said. "In fact, the players and fans must have expected a lot at the beginning of this year, but it ended with a disappointing performance. "Now that I have to prepare for next year, I will prepare well and come back in good form."
◆ "Let's overturn the evaluation of underdogs." The story of Na Gyun-an's "The Strongest Teamwork."
Na Gyun-an revealed the story of joining forces with the players to reverse the public evaluation that "this national team is the weakest team ever." "I've heard a lot that it's a weak team because it's a national team made up of young players even before the tournament," Na Gyun-an said. "Rather, our players were able to unite." Thanks to that, it led to good results. Even before the final, we talked about 'let's show it' and 'let's go into Korea with our heads firmly up.'
He also told the story of a video call with his friend of the same age, Kiwoom Lee Jung-hoo. Na Gyun-an said, "After the award ceremony, I had a video call with (Lee) Jung-hoo. When preparing for the competition in Korea, he said, "Do well" and thanked Lee Jung-hoo for contacting him first even before the final match. On Lee Jung-hoo's message of wishing victory, Na Gyun-an even joked, "We'll prepare the uniform, so come to China quickly." Lee Jung-hoo was originally named in the final entry for the national team, but had to drop out due to an ankle injury.
Personally, I had a time to learn by watching the pitches of the national team pitchers in person. "I was curious about how pitchers who throw well in the KBO league throw. "I'm sure I'm not as good as those players," Na Gyun-an said. "I also felt that I had a lot to learn. During our time together, we asked a lot about what pitches and how we threw them," he said.
In Hangzhou, I watched Lotte games whenever time allowed. "I've been watching Lotte games even though I'm in China," Na Gyun-an said. "I think we should send a final message to fans that we can prepare well for next year through the remaining games." Since our three players have brought good energy, I hope they finish the rest of the season well with good energy," he said, hoping for a "beauty of ending."
◆ Yoon Donghee's life turnaround in "Asian Game Surprise Star"
I wonder if there's another dramatic story like this. Not only was he dramatically selected on the eve of the Asian Games national team's call-up, but he emerged as the "main character" with a strong performance in the tournament.
"I'm thinking positively because I've done well," Yoon Dong-hee said. "It's been a while since I wore a Lotte uniform, and it was awkward. I think it's because the players gathered well during the Asian Games. Now that I'm wearing Lotte's uniform again, I'll do my best in the rest of the game," he said.
Yoon Dong-hee, who was born in 2003, drew attention as he was called "03s" along with his friends of the same age, Hanwha Moon Dong-ju, KIA Choi Ji-min, and KT Park Young-hyun. Yoon Dong-hee said, "I was able to cheer up more because I had friends of my age whom I had met often since elementary school."
Yoon Dong-hee, who has emerged as a "surprise star" of the Asian Games, said, "I learned a lot and felt a lot while playing baseball with my good brothers," adding, "I think I can probably develop more next year than this year." We will use this tournament as an opportunity to develop one step further.
◆ Now I'm dreaming of winning the Lotte Championship
Lotte's gold medal trio experienced the moment of victory in the final, making Lotte more eager to reproduce the moment.
"I've never won a championship in baseball. Only his younger brother (KT Park Se-jin) had a gold medal (winning when he was at Gyeongbuk High School), Park Se-woong said with a smile, "Now I was really happy to bring the biggest gold medal." Now that he knows the taste of winning, he is determined to achieve his dream of winning the championship at Lotte. Park Se-woong said, "When I did the championship, I felt why people like it so much when they win. "I really wanted to win the team as well," he said.
Same goes for Na Kyun-an. "I didn't know why I ran out of the dugout quickly after winning the championship, but I knew how it felt," Na Gyun-an said. "I want to feel that feeling again at Lotte." "This year is difficult, but I hope we will prepare well next year and feel that feeling together in our team," he expressed his hope.
Yoon Dong-hee also said, "I think I felt a lot when I won. Of course, winning the Asian Games was also a good and important moment, but I think I should win Lotte unconditionally. I hope my teammates feel this feeling, he said, adding, "I think I will work harder and work harder toward winning the championship in the future," burning his will to win next season.
This year, Lotte has only one postseason elimination trajik number left. In fact, fall baseball is no different. Lotte, which made a splash at the beginning of the season, ended the 2023 season with regret.
But that doesn't mean you're going to collapse. Lotte's championship clock is still stopped in 1992. This year, LG won the regular season title for the first time in 29 years since 1994. He also celebrated his regular season victory at Lotte's home turf, Sajik Stadium. There is definitely a time called "tomorrow" even for Lotte. If Lotte continues the energy of the gold medal trio's victory in Hangzhou, Lotte will soon be able to face a moment of glory.