Lotte Giants' Han Dong-hee, the 'successor to Lee Dae-ho' with no home runs in 24 games, heads to the 2nd division... Passing the baton with Na Seung-yeop and Go Seung-yeop... Doosan's Yang Seok-hwan and NC's Shin Jae-in also removed from the 1st division roster

*This content was translated by AI.

Han Dong-hee (27, Lotte Giants), who was hailed as Lee Dae-ho's successor and drew high expectations, has ultimately been notified of a move to the 2nd division.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) released the rosters of teams whose players were removed from the 1st division entry on Mondays without games via its website on the 4th.

At Lotte, Han Dong-hee, along with Han Tae-yang and Kim Min-seong, were removed, while Yang Seok-hwan (Doosan Bears), Shin Jae-in and Won Jong-hae (both NC Dinos), Lee Hyung-jong, Im Ji-yeol, Kim Jae-hyun, and Lee Tae-yang (all Kiwoom Heroes), Lee Sang-young and Park Si-won (both LG Twins), and Kim Chang-pyeong (SSG Landers) were sent to Futures League teams.

Han Dong-hee's move to the 2nd division was somewhat anticipated. A local boy who attended Pusan National University, Gyeongnam Middle School, and Gyeongnam High School, Han was selected first overall in 2018 and signed with Lotte, where he was evaluated as a successor to Lee Dae-ho. He hit double-digit home runs for three consecutive years from 2020, building expectations, but has disappointed this season.

While playing for the Army Baseball Team (Sangmu), he led the batting triple crown last year with 27 home runs, 115 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 0.675. After his discharge, he was expected to provide stability in Lotte's middle of the lineup, but since the start of the season, he managed only a .233 batting average (21 hits in 90 at-bats) in 24 games. He hit no home runs, with an on-base percentage of 0.274, a slugging percentage of 0.278, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.552. He drew four walks but recorded 21 strikeouts.

Although he received the most opportunities as the cleanup hitter, his spot in the lineup gradually dropped, and on the 3rd, he started as the designated hitter in the seventh spot against SSG. Before the game, Kim Tae-hyung, the manager, said, "Even if he's not hitting well now, his timing is fine," but also pointed out, "When he swings, his weight doesn't shift properly, and his body lifts up."

He also emphasized that Han must overcome his mental issues on his own, stating, "He needs to endure. Going forward, (Han) Dong-hee needs to do more." He added, "After watching today's game, if the situation looks bad, we can suggest methods and talk it over, which might be fine."

Although it was essentially his last chance, Han Dong-hee entered the batter's box three times and struck out each time. The team took the lead in the bottom of the 8th, but before the final at-bat in the 9th, he was replaced by Jeon Jun-woo.

Since there were players who needed to be promoted to the 1st division, someone had to be sent down. This is because Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Kim Se-min, who were suspended from playing for 30 games by the KBO after it was confirmed they visited a private arcade in Taiwan during pre-season training, have become eligible for registration. As a result, Han Dong-hee, Han Tae-yang, and Kim Min-seong were sent to the 2nd division.

Doosan's power hitter Yang Seok-hwan also struggled with a .205 batting average (18 hits in 88 at-bats), one home run, six RBIs, and an OPS of 0.533, ultimately receiving notification to move to the 2nd division.

Shin Jae-in, the overall second-round rookie who hit .300 during spring training, also felt the high wall of the 1st division with a .149 batting average (7 hits in 47 at-bats) in 23 games and is expected to spend time in the 2nd division to regroup.

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*This content was translated by AI.