*This content was translated by AI.
"Once again, I said I wouldn't leave it alone if something like this came out."
SSG Landers coach Lee Sung-yong (55) delivered a strong warning message to the coaches for his complacent defense that came out the previous day. However, the very next day, a regrettable situation arose again.
Coach Lee Soo-yong met with reporters ahead of the home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League against the Hanwha Eagles at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 8th and said, "That shouldn't come out," adding, "I didn't talk about it separately because (Choi) Ji-hoon was well aware."
In the top of the first inning against Hanwha the previous day, Shota Takeda gave up a hit to Jonathan Peraza. The problem was this next scene. Center fielder Jihoon Choi caught Peraza's ball, but he bowed his head and played a comfortable relay. In the meantime, Peraza dug to second base. I tried to throw the ball to second base late, but Peraza's feet were faster.
He gave up one base so easily that he gave up the first run when Moon Hyun-bin hit. It was a problem that could not be let go of for coach Lee Sung-yong, who always demands an active attitude and serious attitude toward the game. It sent a strong message to prevent this from happening again.
Coach Lee said, "I told coach Yoon Jae-guk, 'I won't leave it alone if something like this comes out again,'" adding, "That's something I really hate about baseball. Jihoon also came and said, 'I'm sorry, I let my guard down.' So he said, 'I'll let you slide this time, you shouldn't have such a thing while playing baseball in the future.' It's okay to make mistakes and be bad, but I don't think you should play baseball like that. You'll know best. I didn't talk about this or that," he said.
However, on this day, the defense that drew a sigh from head coach Lee Sung-yong came out again. Jung Joon-jae failed to catch Oh Jae-won's ordinary ground ball toward second base with one out in the top of the third inning when the two teams were 0-0. Later, he gave up a hit to Moon Hyun-bin and a walk to Noh Si-hwan, putting him on the verge of loading the bases with two outs, and pitcher Choi Min-joon even committed a balk to give up the first run.
The situation did not end here. Kang Baek-ho hit Choi Min-joon's fork ball, which was driven to the center with two outs and runners on the second and third bases, and the ball became a three-run home run with a distance of 130 meters over the central fence.
Coincidentally, problems continue to arise at second base. On the previous day, Ahn Sang-hyun showed a disappointing defense in the second inning, and Jung Joon-jae, who started the day, made a fatal error, making Choi Min-joon's run to 4. The earned run was zero.
Before the game, coach Lee said, "Ahn Sang-hyun or Jung Joon-jae have prepared a lot since last fall. "I trained a lot with two defensive coaches each to strengthen that part, which is a pity," he said. "We can't do anything about the mental part. I need to do more because it's not enough. I think they should be more confident, but they should be angry at themselves for being daunted. But it's too bad that they're looking at each other. I've been talking for three years to run and play as much as I want, but I can't overcome it on my own. From the manager's point of view, I always have no choice but to think positively that it will get better and make him do more," he said.
In particular, Jung Joon-jae's slow growth is regrettable. Jung Joon-jae, who recorded a batting average of 0.307 in his first season after going through Gangneung High School and Dongkuk University, slowed down to 0.245 last year and struggled with no hits in 14 at-bats before the game this season. He even scored by hitting a hit in the fifth inning, but the disappointing scene in defense made manager Lee Sung-yong's worries even bigger.
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*This content was translated by AI.
