Lotte vs. Lotte: 'Nemesis of Former Team' Transformation, Securing 29% of Season's RBIs

*This content was translated by AI.

Is it possible that one's mindset changes when facing one's former team?

Doosan Bears' Kim Min-seok (22) is swinging a bat full of nutritional value in games against his former team, Lotte Giants, this season.

On June 30, in a game against Lotte held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium, Kim Min-seok started as the leadoff hitter and left fielder, going 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, contributing to the team's 5-0 victory.

He started the bottom of the second inning as the leadoff hitter and hit a double to left field off opposing starter Park Se-woong. He then scored the game-winning run on Park Chan-ho's infield single. Kim added a hit to the gap between center and right field in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the team leading 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, one out, and runners on first and third, he hit a two-run single to right field to extend the lead.

Kim Min-seok, who joined Lotte as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft, was known as the 'Sajik Idol' and enjoyed the love of fans, but he donned a Doosan uniform after being traded following the 2024 season.

In his first year with the new team, 2025, he hit .240 (6-for-25) in 11 games against Lotte with no home runs or RBIs, but this season he has transformed into a 'nemesis of his former team.'

In 9 games against Lotte, he has a batting average of .281 (9-for-32) with 1 home run and 8 RBIs. He has secured 29% of his 28 RBIs for the season in games against Lotte, performing exceptionally well. This is a significant gap compared to the next highest totals, which were 4 RBIs each in games against KIA Tigers and KT Wiz.

Kim Min-seok also hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 5-1 in a game against Lotte on May 17, playing a key role in Doosan's 7-3 record against Lotte this season.

Kim Min-seok, who has hit safely in 11 consecutive games since a game against KT on June 16, raising his season batting average to .307, said after the game, "I didn't realize I was on an 11-game hitting streak. It seems the advice from the hitting coaches to narrow my hitting zone is paying off at the plate."

Regarding his energetic celebration after hitting a hit, he explained, "When I get a hit or a run, I try to boost the team's morale with my reaction. It seems the teammates are responding well, creating even more synergy."

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*This content was translated by AI.