Although he started the season as a starting second baseman, there is an MVP-turned-infielder who was eliminated from the first team on May 19th with a batting average of 0.207 (18 hits in 87 at-bats) in 31 games. It is Seo Geon-chang (33) of the LG Twins.
It’s already been 3 months since he went down from District 2. Seo Geon-chang, who seemed to be forgotten like this, is showing force with a batting average of 0.379 (11 hits in 29 bats) in 8 recent Futures League games. While he recorded 11 RBIs, he had only 1 double hit and is showing a strong appearance in chances.
It is similar to the use of Seo Geon-chang that director Yeom Kyung-yeop thought of. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop showed his belief that Seo Kun-chang would be appointed to the first team in the future even when he was wandering in the Futures League. His plan was to use his rich experience as a pinch hitter for the first team if he could survive. Looking at his recent performance, he seems to have found a sense of hitting to the extent that it would not be strange to put him in the first team.
Seo Kun-chang prepared for this season with great pride, choosing even the third free agency. In the past, during the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) days, coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop, who was in his heyday by winning the MVP by achieving 200 hits (201) for the first time in the KBO League in 2014, took office at LG. Seo Geon-chang got another chance and seemed to announce his resurgence by ranking first in the batting average in the exhibition game. However, when the season started, he went down to the second team last May, with a sense of hitting that hardly came back and the most errors in the league. And he has not been called up for three months and is staying in the 2nd division.
In the meantime, LG’s second base was Shin Min-jae. Shin Min-jae is one of LG’s hit products this season. It was an infield backup and major runner resource that did not receive much attention until the opening, but its position expanded as the season progressed. While Seo Geon-chang went down to the 2nd team and Kim Min-seong left due to injury, the number of times he played as second baseman increased, and he played a big role in the offense and defense every time he started. 안전놀이터
Although he failed to fill the required at-bats, he is performing at the Golden Globe level with a batting average of 0.327 (56 hits in 171 bats), 21 RBIs, 32 runs, 29 stolen bases, and an on-base percentage of 0.378 with an OPS of 0.735 in 88 games. In his at-bat, he harasses the pitcher with his tenacious appearance, and when he gets on base, he steals the base with his quick feet. As of the 21st, he is marking the 1st place in stolen bases, beating the league’s leading players such as Soo-bin Jeong, Hye-seong Kim, and Chan-ho Park.
Even if Seo Geon-chang returns to the first team, there is a high possibility that the starting second baseman will be Shin Min-jae. However, LG, which is challenging the presidency after 29 years, needs the experience of Seo Geon-chang. Usually, players who are talented in batting who have been pushed out of the starting lineup are evaluated as good pinch hitters. Seo Geon-chang should do just that. Seo Kun-chang must return to the first team in the best condition and succeed in rebounding, so LG will be closer to winning. Both the club and the players are eagerly awaiting it.