"His power is on the level of Na Sung-beom." A stern scolding from the head coach and a lengthy text message woke up Oh Jang-han, who is currently leading the weekly batting average at 0.545.

*This content was translated by AI.

"If we look only at power, he is on the level of Na Sung-beom (37·KIA Tigers). Even a light tap sends the ball flying far."

The "secret weapon" that NC Dinos manager Lee Ho-jun (50) praised until his lips were dry truly dominated the league. There is a player who is repaying that trust with a terrifying batting explosion. That player is NC outfielder Oh Jang-han (24). Wielding a bat that posted a staggering weekly batting average of 0.545 (12 hits in 22 at-bats), he has risen as the hottest hitter in the league.

Manager Lee Ho-jun, who recognized Oh Jang-han's potential early on, kept a close eye on him since the spring training camp this season. Recalling that time, the manager said at a recent meeting with reporters during the Daegu away series, "The staff recommended him, saying, 'There's a player named Oh Jang-han; he has a style that the manager would like.'" However, there was a fatal flaw. According to the manager, he "lacked greed and fighting spirit." His naturally gentle and quiet disposition meant his combat power on the field was somewhat lacking.

This was even more pronounced because he had just completed his military service with the Sangmu team in June 2025. Now, he only had to focus on baseball. A right-handed batter who bats left-handed, Oh Jang-han is a player who has drawn high expectations from the NC franchise. After graduating from Jangang High School, he joined NC in the 2021 rookie draft as the 26th overall pick in the third round. He is a draft classmate of Kim Ju-won (24), who has grown into one of the KBO League's top shortstops.

Manager Lee Ho-jun made a harsh decision to change Oh Jang-han's disposition. From the closing camp onward, all coaching staff focused on him, making him complete the heaviest training load. "Even when he was on the verge of dying from exhaustion, they kept telling him, 'Just hit it, bring more boxes,' and pushed him to the end," the manager said. In this way, he tried to forcibly draw out the "evil" hidden within Oh Jang-han's inner self.

However, just as the early part of this season seemed like a smooth road, Oh Jang-han was struck by the misfortune of a hamstring injury. After a long rehabilitation, Oh Jang-han was sent down to the Futures (minor league) League. As he rarely made contact and his news went quiet, it was actually Manager Lee Ho-jun who became anxious. Eventually, to wake his disciple, the manager sent a lengthy text message first.

Manager Lee Ho-jun said, "He didn't contact me, so I sent a long text message first. Actually, I called him the previous evening, but he was asleep early due to the C Team (minor league) schedule and didn't answer. He replied early the next morning. He is a player I had high expectations for," revealing his special affection.

The master's sincere scolding and the lengthy message acted as a catalyst that woke the sleeping lion. As soon as Oh Jang-han returned to the first-division roster on the 2nd, he began a display of power by hitting multi-hits from his first day back. On the 2nd, in a game against Samsung where he started as a hitter, he recorded 3 hits in 4 at-bats (including one double) and 1 RBI, then continued his hit streak through the three-game home series against LG over the weekend. This was a hit streak in six consecutive games. In the LG game on the 6th, he came in as a pinch hitter and even hit his career-first home run. He made it onto the list of the weekly batting average leader announced by the KBO. His weekly OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) reached 1.318.

Manager Lee Ho-jun said, "He was a player I considered one of this year's best hit products along with Park Si-won," and added, "The season is not over yet, so I can't say it's good already, but I hope he regains his confidence through this opportunity and continues to perform steadily. He is definitely a player who will do his part," showing firm confidence.

The warm, lengthy text message hidden behind the master's terrifying scolding, and the disciple's perfect comeback story as he gritted his teeth and rose. As Oh Jang-han's bat grows hotter, a powerful engine has begun to run in Manager Lee Ho-jun's summer race.

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*This content was translated by AI.