Wounded Lotte 'Pinch-Hasher Full Base' Makes 38-Year-Old Veteran Laugh Even At Rainy No-Games

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants' Kim Min-sung (38) continues to hit well in the practice game.

Kim Min-sung hit a grand slam against the Doosan Bears at the 2026 Miyazaki Koochun Competition held at Hinata Sanmarin Stadium in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan on the 26th.

The situation was in the top of the third inning when the two teams faced off 2-2. Earlier, Han Tae-yang, Yoon Dong-hee, and Han Dong-hee walked and became full base with no outs. Another veteran Kim Min-sung stepped up to the plate instead of Jeon Joon-woo, who was replaced by a ball. Kim Min-sung caught Lee Young-ha's 139km/h fastball coming into the body. The ball hit the left pole and became a grand slam to make a 6-2 turnaround.

This bases-loaded shot never went down on the record. After the Lotte attack in the top of the third inning, it rained a lot in Miyazaki, and the game was canceled due to an agreement between the two teams. Victor Reyes' leadoff home run in the first inning, Yoo Kang-nam, Son Ho-young and Jeon Min-jae's hit streak, and Kyoyama Masaya's 147km/h fastball in the Asian quarter all flew with the wind and rain.

Although it was dealt with no game, it was enough to soothe the hurt Lotte. Lotte received the spotlight on the departure of some players during the first spring camp in Taiwan. As a result, even the sweat drops of many Lotte players who were trying out of sight for the fall baseball season were not illuminated.

However, the achievements of the efforts are being revealed little by little in the field. Reyes, the KBO batting king and Lotte's third year, is hopeful by producing hits every day. In the game on the 24th, when he lost 2-1 to the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), he also hit three hits in four at-bats, and even hit a home run on the day.

Above all, it is veteran Kim Min-sung who makes fans feel sad. Currently, two main infielders are leaving, and Lotte is conducting various experiments to fill the gap. Kim Min-sung is giving off a strong presence every time he comes out, even though he is receiving fewer opportunities from young backup players.

The game was typical on the 22nd, when he came out as a one-out bases-loaded pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning and drew 3-3 with a three-run timely double.

Following that day, he is raising awareness of young infielders by proving his competitiveness with a grand slam as a pinch-hit. It is the good-intentioned competition and veteran effect that Lotte wanted so much.

If he continues his current pace to the end of the exhibition game, entering the main third base is not a dream. And Kim Min-sung is a player who took that needle-hole opportunity and eventually became the main player.

Kim Min-sung burned himself spectacularly in his last year with the LG Twins before being traded to Lotte. Kim Min-sung, who was 35 years old at the time, started the season as a backup second baseman and third baseman.

It was an old man that no one expected, but he showed his presence when the injury of Oh Ji-hwan, the main shortstop, created a gap in April. He hit a monthly batting average of .300 from May to June and completed the task brilliantly until Oh Ji-hwan returned from injury. Some even say that if it wasn't for Kim Min-sung's performance that year, there would have been no LG win for the first time in 29 years.

The price of hard work is bound to come back from the ground someday. Kim Min-sung, 38, is showing the unchanging truth.

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*This content was translated by AI.