The Lotte Giants even have no place for "5 billion shortstop" and "pre-FA shortstop." If last year's trade lucky charm was Son Ho-young's, wouldn't it be Jeon Min-jae this year.
After the end of the 2022 season, Lotte opened its wallet in the free agent market for the first time in a long time. This is why catcher and shortstop resources, which had been considered Lotte's weakness for many years, acquired the status as a free agent. In response, Lotte bet a total of 5 billion won for four years to embrace Noh, who played for the NC Dinos. However, the recruitment of Noh has led to complete failure.
Noh's biggest advantage was his power to hit double-digit home runs at shortstop, and his offense ability to record an OPS of 0.800 or higher. However, he left 113 games with 86 hits, four homers and a batting average of 0.257 OPS of 0.724, while he was away due to injury from the first season after his debut. As a result, Noh hoped to rebound, but he only played 73 games last year, effectively playing a career-low season with a batting average of 0.219 OPS of 0.604.
Lotte recruited a total of 5 billion won, but Noh Jin-hyuk failed to join the first-team spring camp this year due to continued sluggishness, and has yet to play in the second-tier game due to chronic back injuries. Among these was Park Seung-wook, who took the lead in the 2022 season.
Park played in 123 games, more than Noh in 2023, recording 83 hits and 30 RBIs with a batting average of 0.286 OPS of 0.733 and jumped to the main shortstop last year by posting 106 hits, seven homers, 53 RBIs and a batting average of 0.262 OPS of 0.716 in 139 games. With Noh not having any presence, the biggest reason Lotte was able to ease the center infield's concerns was Park. However, neither Noh nor Park Seung-wook is the owner of Lotte's shortstop this year. It is Jeon Min-jae.
Jeon Min-jae was acquired by Lotte through a trade with the Doosan Bears last winter to strengthen its infield depth. Initially, Lotte brought Jeon Min-jae to strengthen its backup, but Roh Jin-hyuk failed to join the opening entry, and Park Seung-wook showed sluggish performance early in the season and emerged as the main player at a time when he went down to the second division.
At the end of the game on the 20th, Jeon Min-jae is flying high with 29 hits, one home run, seven RBIs, 12 runs and a batting average of 0.397 OPS of 0.957 in 24 games. In particular, his April performance is overwhelming. Starting with the Hanwha Eagles match on the 4th and the showdown with the Samsung Lions on the 20th, Jeon Min-jae has had hits in 15 consecutive games. In particular, he hit his first home run against Samsung on the 19th, and is flying high with 26 hits, six RBIs, 11 runs and a batting average of 0.448 OPS 1.070 in 17 games in April. Currently, his batting average is going back and forth between the late 40% and the 30% of the game, but he is running second in the league. 카지노
Jeon Min-jae produced a hit in the game on the 20th, but did not directly contribute to the team's victory, showing off his unrivaled presence in defense. In the first scene, Samsung's Kang Min-ho's hit with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in the bottom of the third inning led 3-1 by Lotte was headed between the shortstop and the third baseman. At this time, Jeon Min-jae played a tremendous defense to catch Kang Min-ho's hit. As a result, all runners survived as an infield hit, but if the hit was missing, it would lead to a loss, and Lotte ended the inning without additional runs.
In response, commentator Park Jae-hong praised the team for blocking a run. Such performances did not stop at once. With the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Lewin Diaz's hitters rolled to shortstop and second baseman this time, when Jeon once again appeared, leading to a clean outing for a hit that could have escaped the infield. In addition, Jeon slid a ball hit by Samsung's Kim Young-woong in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and no runners, and produced the final out count with a turning throw.
With this trend, even if "5 billion shortstop" Noh Jin-hyuk and "Preliminary FA" Park Seung-wook come back from their slump, they should give Jeon a "challenge." Jeon Min-jae, who has been performing better than expected in both offense and defense, is already showing signs of becoming Lotte's best hit product this season.