"Awesome" Han Hwa-seo's exit and "ML's first home run" exploded! A three-run shot in the first at-bat of the first exhibition game...

*This content was translated by AI.

Mike Turkman (36, New York Mets) of the New York Mets, who returned to the U.S. stage after failing to renew his contract with the Hanwha Eagles, made a strong impression by hitting a home run in his first exhibition game.

Turkman started as the fourth batter and right fielder in the home game of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida on the 25th (Korea time), and played one hit in one at-bats (one home run), three RBIs, one run and one walk. The team won a 6–6 draw.

Turkman's home run hit his first at-bat in the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, when both teams faced 0-0. One out, first and second base chance. Tuckman hit a 78.2-mile (125.9 km) changeup in the middle of the second pitch on a 1-0 ball count against Houston right-hander Jason Alexander, drawing a three-run arch over the right fence.

It was Tuckman's first home run in this year's exhibition game. According to MLB's official website Game Day broadcast, the batting speed was 95 miles (152.9 kilometers), the flying distance was 358 feet (109.1 meters), and the launch angle was 30 degrees. Tuckman's gently swung bat and the ball hit the decision slightly over the right fence.

Turkman took his second at-bat in the bottom of the second inning with two outs and no runners. And after a full count match, he picked out a four-seam fastball that fell from the low zone in the sixth pitch and walked to get on base. However, the follow-up hit did not hit and failed to score. Turkman was replaced by Jose Ramos ahead of the defense in the top of the fifth inning and finished his game on the day.

Turkman signed a contract with Hanwha for a total of $1 million ahead of the 2022 season and formed a relationship with South Korea. At that time, he played in center field for all games (144 games), with a batting average of 0.289, 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, 88 runs, 19 steals, a on-base percentage of 0.366, a slugging percentage of 0.430, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.796. However, Hanwha did not renew the contract, judging that it lacked destructive power.

Later, Tuckman signed a minor league contract with his hometown team, the Chicago Cubs, and returned to the big league stage. In the 2023 season, he took the opportunity to play as a backup for Cody Bellinger (currently the New York Yankees) and posted a batting average of 0.252, eight homers and 48 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.739. In the 2024 season, he played in 109 games and marked a batting average of 0.248 (74 hits in 298 at-bats) with seven home runs, 29 RBIs, 50 runs and an OPS of 0.723 points. However, he seemed to be losing ground to Seiya Suzuki and Ian Hep, and eventually moved to the Chicago White Sox in the 2025 season.

Turkman appeared in 93 games for the White Sox, batting .263 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and an OPS of .756. However, he suffered from being released after the end of the season. The New York Mets reached out to him. And he proved his presence by hitting a home run in his first exhibition game on the day. Bae Ji-hwan, 27, is a teammate like Tuckman. Coincidentally, he can be said to be an outfield position competitor. How will Turkman perform in the Mets this season.

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*This content was translated by AI.