'Slugging percentage of 0.621' means power hitting! Even with Austin-inspired first base defense... Lee Ah-reum, who gritted her teeth, said, "If it doesn't work, I'll keep trying until it does."

*This content was translated by AI.

Moon Jung-bin (23), a former member of the famous 'El-leen-i (LG Twins + Children)' group, clenched her teeth at a precious opportunity.

Moon Jung-bin, who graduated from Gajongcho Elementary, Jamsin Middle, and Seoul High School, was drafted by LG in the 2nd round, 77th pick of the 2022 KBO Rookie Draft. She is a right-handed batter and right-handed thrower infielder. While at Seoul High School, she served as the team's cleanup hitter and captain, but for several years after joining the team, she was better known as the daughter of KBO umpire Moon Seung-hoon (60).

After completing her military service, she made a late-season impact in 2024 Futures League play with a .489 batting average, 6 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .840 slugging percentage across 28 games, beginning to attract attention as a promising power hitter. Last year, she experienced some setbacks, appearing in only 21 first-division games with 33 plate appearances, and she also began this season in the minor league.

While she was quietly training, an unexpected opportunity arose. With the consecutive departures of Moon Bo-kyung and Moon Sung-ju, a chance opened up for her. From her first game after being called up, she hit a double, leaving a strong impression. Her subsequent performance has been quite surprising. She hit a home run within just three games of being called up, and her performance in the Busan Lotte Giants games on the 27th and 28th was remarkable.

On the 27th, in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Moon Jung-bin entered as a pinch hitter and connected with left-handed pitcher Hong Min-ki's fastball, driving a two-run, go-ahead triple down the right-field line. In the game on the 28th, with LG trailing 2-5 in the bottom of the 6th inning with one out and runners on second and third, she attacked Kim Jin-wook's low slider outside and sent it far over the left-field wall. It was a massive home run with a flight distance of 130 meters and a batted ball speed of 170.2 km/h.

Fans were fired up by her monstrous power to instantly connect a difficult pitch into a massive hit. Even though she went hitless in five at-bats in the Jamsil KIA game on the 29th, she still maintained a slugging percentage of 0.621 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.974.

Ahead of the Jamsil KIA game on the 29th, Moon Jung-bin spoke with StarNews about the secret to her recent hitting: "I thought I had to hit quickly when facing good pitchers. By not overthinking things in the batter's box and thinking I was playing against the pitcher, I was able to make good contact."

Recently, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop has frequently designated first baseman Austin Dean (33) as the designated hitter, which has increased Moon Jung-bin's role. In response, Moon Jung-bin said, "I go into the batter's box with the mindset that I can do it and that I will definitely succeed. I have prepared hard up until now, so I believe success will follow."

She added, "I also told my senior teammates not to worry about the results of their at-bats but to focus on the next one. I definitely feel that things have improved compared to last year. I'm not trying to hit too hastily like before, and by focusing only on hitting the pitches I like, things have naturally gotten better."

Moon Jung-bin remained hitless in the batter's box during the Jamsil KIA game on the 29th. However, she surprised fans with her stable first base defense, as if possessed by Austin. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with one out, Park Jae-hyun hit a ground ball that bounced strongly toward first base. At that moment, Moon Jung-bin stretched her legs wide to field the ball. In the bottom of the 4th inning during Kim Do-young's at-bat, she again stretched her legs wide to snag a strong ground ball hit by Oh Ji-hwan.

With Moon Jung-bin handling first base defense so well, LG was able to give Austin some rest. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop has previously cited the need to manage Austin's stamina as the reason for his frequent appearances as a designated hitter this year. As it is his first full-time season, a slump is inevitable. However, there is nothing that cannot be done for a promising young player who is just beginning to bloom.

Moon Jung-bin said, "Our team has so many excellent senior players. Just watching them makes me feel like I'm growing. I am learning a lot by playing alongside them." She also expressed her ambitious plans: "On days when things don't go well, I will practice more. I will work hard until I succeed."

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*This content was translated by AI.