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 helmets to come off.

Doosan Bears' Kim Min-seok (22) is reviving his hitting talent. He is also showing his 'Hustle-Doosan' side, 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. A scene was captured on the broadcast screen of him removing his helmet with his hand while running around 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 pulled out a double to left-center field off Han Jae-seung. Both were all-out sprints that inevitably caused his helmets 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 Hitting Award during high school with a .544 batting average. Both are senior-junior high school teammates at Hwimun High School, possessed outstanding hitting talent, and both played shortstop in high school before switching to outfield upon entering the professional league, among other commonalities.

Kim Min-seok, selected 3rd overall in the first round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft by the Lotte Giants, established himself on the professional stage in his debut year with 129 games played, 400 at-bats, 102 hits (.255 batting average), 3 home runs, 39 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. With his slender physique and handsome looks, he gained popularity as the 'Sajik Idol'.

However, after finishing the 2024 season with a .211 batting average in 41 games, 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 Woo In to the Doosan Bears. In his first year with the new team in 2025, he recorded a .228 batting average in 95 games, falling short of expectations.

Now in his fourth professional season, Kim Min-seok is gradually revealing his potential. In 15 games this season, he has a .370 batting average (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, .373 batting average), he is bringing a fresh and youthful wind to the Doosan lineup, which had suffered 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 hitting form and fulfilled the role of the fifth batter perfectly."

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

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*This content was translated by AI.