“People around me said it would be a shame, but every time I said, ‘You can play better at more important moments’. I think it’s good because it came out relatively early.”
LG Twins infielder Lee Young-bin (22) started as the ninth batter and right fielder against Hanwha Eagles in Jamsil on the 8th and had the best day of his career. He led the team to a landslide 14-3 victory by making four hits in four at-bats (two home runs) and five RBIs. He set a new record for the most hits and RBIs in one individual game, and marked the first and second home runs of the season with his first consecutive home run in his career. With shortstop Oh Ji-hwan firmly in the team, Lee Young-bin started as the right fielder, but when shortstop Oh Ji-hwan was replaced in the second half of the game, he moved to the shortstop and finished the game like Oh Ji-hwan’s successor.
Lee Young-bin has been expected to be the next shortstop to succeed Oh Ji-hwan since he graduated from Sebojeon High School and joined LG as the seventh-ranked player in the second round of the rookie draft in 2021. Throughout the two seasons of 2021 and 2022, he had a batting average of 0.223 (50 hits in 224 at-bats), three homers, 21 RBIs, and OPS of 0.617 in 132 games in the first division, experiencing the growing pains that high school rookie fielders often experience as soon as they come to the professional league.
After returning from military service in Sangmu, Lee has posted a batting average of 0.429 (12 hits in 28 times at bat), an OPS of 1.108, two homers and seven RBIs in 18 games this year. He has posted six hits out of 12 hits over the past two days at the match against Hanwha on Saturday and Sunday.
The secret was a special night training session with hitting coach Mo Chang-min. “Young hitters must practice contacting,” LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said. “I had contact training with coach Mo Chang-min for about an hour after the game the day before yesterday (June 6). He throws the same ball to the batter, and one throw is to make him hit the ball while running. He keeps hitting 50 more times indoors,” adding that the special training effect led to two hits against Hanwha on Sunday.
Lee Young-bin took the lead in destroying the Hanwha Eagles by utilizing his strong batting sense. With the team leading 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, when LG succeeded in triple stealing for the eighth time in KBO history, third baseman Moon Bo-kyung scored to make it 3-0, and Lee instantly widened the gap to 6-0 when he hit a three-run homer with two outs and runners on second and third bases. Masu-lugging shot for the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lee hit another homer with two outs and a runner on second. He stole a superior two-run shot from right-hander Han Seung-joo and widened the distance to 11-2. It was a big shot that allowed Hanwha to raise its flag. The initial decision was a foul, but a video review confirmed that the hit went inside the right pole.
Lee Young-bin had a home run stolen against the Gwangju KIA Tigers on the 3rd. Lee Young-bin’s ball was caught in the fence over the middle fence, and the referee who went to the front of the fence and checked it did not recognize it as a home run. LG went to the front of the fence and did not apply for a video reading, leading to the home run being stolen.
Lee Young-bin said, “It’s my first homer in Jamsil, so I thought a lot about what it would be like to hit it in Jamsil. Even when I was in the military, I thought a lot about what it would be like to hit it after returning to Jamsil Baseball Stadium. I think I’m happier because it’s the day that it came true.”
“People around me (when the home run was stolen) said it was a shame, but every time I said, ‘You can hit it better at a more important moment.’ I think it came out relatively early, so I think it’s good,” he added.
Regarding the situation of video-reading the second home run, he said, “It would be nice to hit a home run in the previous at-bat, but I was nervous because he told me to get ready to play with (Hong) Chang-ki and (Kim) Hyun-soo next to me. I think I waited happily with a smile, and I was more happy to see another home run.”
I thanked coach Yeom and coach Mo. Lee Young-bin said, “Just the day before, the coach practiced playing lunge like this. Then the result came out, and I’m actively doing what the coach gave me and what the coaches gave me, but I think I can trust it more because the result came out good.” 스포츠토토
While watching LG win the combined championship last year at Sangmu, I became even more desperate to be with them. “First of all, the fans must have expected after being discharged from the military, but I was worried because the performance was not good at Sangmu, and the fans were also very worried, although they were supportive. Still, I am very happy that the team has been able to perform well so far. I looked really happy to see it (when I won the championship last year). I also wanted to be there as soon as possible,” Lee said.
Lee Young-bin is currently concentrating on increasing his use in the first division by conducting both infield and outfield defense training. He always practices shortstop training without fail. “I did a lot while playing extra with Kim Il-kyung every day. I still have a lot of things to do, but I think I should be thankful and try a little more because I feel like I’ve done more with him,” Lee said.
After the game, Yeom said, “Congratulations on Lee’s first consecutive home run. The most important part is that coach Mo Chang-min put in a lot of effort with Lee for one hour after the game and two hours after the game. I want to compliment coach Mo Chang-min and Lee Young-bin.”