Lotte Giants catcher Yoo Kang-nam smiled brightly for the first time in a while.

Ahead of this season, Yoo Kang-nam, who wore the Lotte uniform on a four-year contract worth 8 billion won, was under a lot of stress due to his below-expected performance. On the 5th, against Samsung in Ulsan, he contributed to a 10-3 victory by going 2 hits, 3 RBIs, and 1 run in 3 at-bats, including a home run.메이저놀이터

Yoo Kang-nam, who played catcher number 6, hit Samsung starter Choi Chae-heung’s first pitch fastball (141km) with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 3rd in the first inning with a 1-0 lead, leading to a 3-run home run in left-center. This was the first home run in 45 days since the Sajik Kiwoom game on July 22nd. Lotte succeeded in taking the lead 4-0 in the first inning with Goodrum’s sacrifice fly to right field and Yoo Kang-nam’s three-run home run to left-center field.

Yoo Kang-nam hit a double to right field in his second at-bat in the third inning, completing his 10th multi-hit this season. Acting Lotte coach Lee Jong-woon applauded, saying, “Yoo Kang-nam was able to bring the momentum to our side by hitting a three-run home run early in the game.”

Yoo Kang-nam, who met with reporters after the game, said, “I went into the game with the mindset of swinging with confidence and coolness from the first pitch. “He was intimidated by the bad results, so he decided to take the plunge without regrets,” he said, expressing his feelings about getting a taste of his hand after 45 days.

He continued, “I am having a career-low season due to poor batting, but the coaches have helped me a lot and encouraged me that I can do it. With the encouragement of my coaches, I try not to be discouraged and try to do better. “Thanks to the coaches for giving me courage today,” he said.

Yoo Kang-nam said that watching his own batting video helped him overcome his endless batting slump. “I happened to watch the video today when it was good, and I thought about how I felt and tried to follow the video.” These are the words of Yoo Kang-nam.

The bat he received from his ‘best friend’ Koo Ja-wook (Samsung) also played a role. Yoo Kang-nam said, “Before today’s game, I received a bat from Ja-wook, and with that bat I hit a home run in my first at-bat. I had good results, but Jauk had no hits in 4 at-bats. “I don’t know if I took away good energy,” he said, expressing his regret.

One of Yoo Gangnam’s biggest strengths is durability. Although he has been far from injury-free, he suffered a torn left side muscle during a swing in July, putting him on pause for a while. Recalling the situation at the time, he said, “I was very embarrassed. He said it was a major injury, but he took comfort in the fact that it was only a 0.5cm tear. It’s fortunate that he didn’t hold back the pain and talked about it before it tore up even more. “I think he gave me a signal from heaven to take good care of my body and strictly follow a routine,” he said.

Lotte starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson earned his fourth win of the season with a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings. Yoo Kang-nam, who worked with Wilkerson, said, “It was helpful to increase the rate of cut fastballs based on the data received from the R&D team ahead of today’s game.” “You can do it,” he praised.

When I said to Yoo Kang-nam, ‘I think I will be on the rise thanks to my performance that day,’ he said, “I want to do this every day, but it doesn’t work out,” and “I just have to not give up. He’s on a winning streak, so there’s plenty of fall baseball to go around. “I try to think positively,” he answered with a grin.

The growth of Lotte’s young catchers such as Jeong Bo-geun and Son Seong-bin makes me smile. “Seeing my juniors doing well makes me feel proud and satisfied, and it also makes me feel good. The atmosphere in the catcher’s tank is very good. He ended the interview saying, “I think I just have to do well.”