"He even did batting simulations in the dorm." How Lotte's Go Seung-min overcame his struggles with a .198 batting average in June

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants second baseman Go Seung-min (26) recently found the reason for his batting rebound outside the field.

On the 4th, Go Seung-min started as the leadoff hitter and second baseman in the visiting game against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, recording two hits, one RBI, and one run in five at-bats to lead Lotte to a 4-1 victory.

Facing KT's native ace Ko Young-pyo, he fully fulfilled his role as a table-setter. Go Seung-min recorded an infield hit through the middle of the field in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning but did not score due to Victor Reyes' double play.

Go Seung-min took a brief pause after a ground ball to the shortstop in the top of the fourth inning, then delivered a decisive blow in the top of the sixth. With Hwang Sung-bin reaching base with a double down the left-field line, he connected on Ko Young-pyo's outside two-seam fastball for a hit to left field, driving in one run to tie the game at 1-1.

Later, Go Seung-min advanced to third base following Reyes' single to right field and Han Dong-hee's fly ball to right field, then scored on Na Seung-yeop's ground ball, giving Lotte a 2-1 lead. The score remained unchanged as KT failed to rally, making him the hero of the game-winning run.

This marks a gradual turnaround from his poor performance in June. Go Seung-min made his first-team debut only in May after being sidelined due to an illegal gambling scandal during the team's spring training camp in Taiwan earlier this season. While he hit .354 (96 at-bats, 34 hits) over May, his batting average dropped to .198 (96 at-bats, 19 hits) in June.

However, since recording three hits including a home run and six RBIs in four at-bats against the Busan LG Twins on June 28, he has shown signs of regaining his batting form. In July, he hit .294 (17 at-bats, 5 hits) across four games, crediting his success to hidden efforts with teammate Na Seung-yeop (24).

After the game, Go Seung-min stated, "My batting rhythm was not good since June. Having many conversations with my roommate Na Seung-yeop in the dorm and practicing through batting simulations helped a lot."

As these efforts began to show on the field, Lotte General Manager Kim Tae-hyung (59) expressed satisfaction. Recently, Lotte has faced significant concerns over poor offensive performance. The management even considered moving Go Seung-min to the outfield and shifting Park Chan-hyung to second base to maximize offensive output. However, as the center lineup — consisting of center fielder Hwang Sung-bin, shortstop Jeon Min-jae, second baseman Go Seung-min, and catcher Son Seong-bin — gradually solidified into a starting unit, their perspective changed.

Before the game, Manager Kim Tae-hyung praised the team's progress: "I was considering moving (Go) Seung-min to the outfield and using (Park) Chan-hyung at second base to make some changes. But the center lineup is now taking shape. (Son) Seong-bin has improved more than expected in terms of pitch framing and game management, showing signs of a true starter. (Hwang) Sung-bin is also fulfilling his role from center field, so we decided not to make any changes for now."

This indicates that Go Seung-min has also taken on a stable defensive role. He specifically credited second baseman Jeon Min-jae, stating, "In terms of defense, (Jeon) Min-jae is doing an excellent job anchoring the infield from the center. I've been focusing on avoiding mistakes by aligning with his leadership, which seems to be leading to positive results. However, I still feel my defense has significant room for improvement. I will train harder and put in more effort."

Once trailing by a win-loss margin of -15 and slipping as far as 10th place, Lotte has now reduced the gap to -7 and is within striking distance of fifth place, just four games behind. With a solid starting rotation bolstered by reliever Shota Iimura, along with gradual improvements in the lineup, the team is on an upward trajectory. It feels like only four more games remain before the first half concludes.

Nevertheless, Go Seung-min has declared his determination to keep pushing forward. "With the team on a winning streak, I will do my best to secure as many victories as possible before the All-Star break," he vowed.

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*This content was translated by AI.