Four doubles in three games → all-out sprint → helmet removed four times, 'Second Lee Jung-hoo' talent with hustle

*This content was translated by AI.

In three days, he recorded four doubles, all achieved through all-out sprints that even caused his helmet to come off.

Doosan Bears' Kim Min-seok (22) is reviving his batting talent. He is also showing his 'Hustle-Doosan' side, refusing to hold back, and injecting vitality into the team.

The three-game home series against the KBO League's KIA Tigers held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium last weekend clearly revealed the changed Kim Min-seok.

In the first game on the 17th, Kim Min-seok entered as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning with two outs and a runner on second base while his team trailed 2-5. He hit a two-run double to right-center field off pitcher Jo Sang-woo. His helmet came off as he made a head-first slide into second base for a safe call.

In the game on the 18th, he started as the fifth batter and led off the bottom of the 10th inning of extra innings with the score tied 4-4, hitting a double down the right-field line off Hong Min-gyu. Broadcast footage captured him removing his helmet with his hand while rounding first base. After reaching second base, he scored the walk-off run on Lee Yu-chan's subsequent double to center field.

On the 19th, he hit two doubles. In the bottom of the 5th inning with two outs and a runner on second base while leading 3-2, he hit a one-run double to left-center field off Yang Hyun-jong. In the bottom of the 7th inning with a 6-2 lead, he hit a double to left-center field off Han Jae-seung. Both were all-out sprints that inevitably caused his helmet to come off, and his ability to pull and push the ball stood out.

Kim Min-seok garnered high expectations as the 'Second Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco)' after winning the Lee Young-min Batting Award (batting average 0.544) during his high school days. Both attended Hwimun High School as seniors and juniors, possessed outstanding batting talent, and both played shortstop in high school before transitioning to the outfield upon entering professional baseball, sharing many commonalities.

Kim Min-seok, selected 3rd overall in the first round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft by the Lotte Giants, made his professional debut in 129 games, recording 400 at-bats, 102 hits (batting average 0.255), 3 home runs, 39 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, establishing himself on the professional stage. With his slender build and handsome appearance, he gained popularity as the 'Sajik Idol'.

However, after finishing the 2024 season with only 41 games and a batting average of 0.211, he was traded in November of that year in a 3-for-2 deal (↔Jeong Cheol-won, Jeon Min-jae) along with Choi Jae-hyun and Choi Woo-in, joining the Doosan Bears. In his first year with the new team in 2025, he played 95 games with a batting average of 0.228, falling short of expectations.

Entering his fourth professional season, Kim Min-seok is gradually revealing his potential. In 15 games this season, he has a batting average of 0.370 (46 at-bats, 17 hits), 1 home run, and 10 RBIs. If he qualifies for the batting title, this would rank 8th in batting average. Along with Park Jun-soon (20, batting average 0.373), he is bringing a fresh, youthful breeze to the Doosan lineup, which had been suffering from severe slumps early in the season.

Doosan manager Kim Won-hyeong (54) praised Kim Min-seok after the team secured its first winning series of the season on the 19th, stating, "Kim Min-seok has maintained good batting form and fulfilled his role as the fifth batter."

Kim Min-seok, whose batting talent is now complemented by effort and fighting spirit. Watching what kind of batter he will grow into is also an interesting prospect.

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*This content was translated by AI.