'Stolen base attempt rate of 3.9%: Just sitting makes a difference, Lotte's Son Seong-bin shows insane presence... even a manager who was a catcher acknowledges it

*This content was translated by AI.

If asked to name the hit product for the 2026 Lotte Giants, Son Seong-bin (24) would be at the top of the list. Known for his various expressions and reactions, earning him the nickname "shorts-type catcher," Son Seong-bin in a catcher's mask is by no means a lightweight presence. He is a catcher who ties down opposing runners simply by sitting.

Looking only at caught-stealing percentage, 20% is not an overwhelming figure. Son Seong-bin's true presence is better reflected in the number of times he prevents runners from running rather than the number of times he catches them. This season, Son Seong-bin leads the KBO League with a stolen base attempt rate of just 3.9% among catchers who have pitched at least 300 innings. It means he is a catcher who makes it difficult to run in the first place.

Even a stern manager who was once a catcher, known for not easily praising catchers, acknowledged this. Kim Tae-hyung (59), Lotte's manager, explained ahead of the the 4th game against Suwon KT Wiz: "When Son Seong-bin is in, opposing teams don't look at him as easy and hesitate to run. It's difficult to steal against Son Seong-bin unless you completely take away the pitcher's habit or timing. His form for receiving the ball and his speed make it not easy. Except for a few very fast players on each team, it's not easy."

Son Seong-bin himself was aware that his presence puts pressure on opposing runners. Meeting Son Seong-bin in Suwon, he said, "It seems true that there aren't many stolen base attempts. It looks like only stolen base specialists or very fast runners dare to run. That makes it hard to catch them too. But even with those few attempts, catching them is my role. Also, I can't catch runners just by doing well on my own. Of course, putting pressure on the opposing team is an advantage."

Son Seong-bin's strengths as a catcher are not limited to his arm. He approaches each pitcher in different ways and contributes to stability on the mound. Kim Tae-hyung, the manager, smiled and said, "Son Seong-bin has improved more than expected. His lead of the pitchers is good, and he is acting like a regular starter."

Although not yet a complete product, this means he is taking shape as a regular catcher, which is quite high praise in Kim's unique style. In fact, Lotte's team ERA this year is 4.45, ranking fourth in the league. Among them, his same-age teammate Kim Jin-wook (24) has been selected for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team while working well with Son Seong-bin.

In response, Son Seong-bin said, "Jin-wook pitched well and got selected. My role was just to keep him focused and catch diligently. Not only Jin-wook but all our pitchers are pitching well, leading to good results. As a catcher, that is the most satisfying part." He could not hide his pride.

Various expressions and situations arising from the process of keeping pitchers focused have become hot topics day after day. While he is bold with friends like Kim Jin-wook and one-year senior Choi Jun-yong (25), he is endlessly warm toward older brother Park Se-woong (31) and rookie Park Jeong-min (22). The same was true on this day. Starting pitcher Park Se-woong faced a bases-loaded, two-out crisis in the bottom of the 7th inning when the score was tied 2-2, after allowing hits to Kim Min-hyuk and Heo Kyung-min and a straight walk to pinch hitter Lee Jeong-hoon.

Even during Kwon Dong-jin's at-bat, when the first pitch was a ball, Son Seong-bin went up to the mound. The broadcast captured Son Seong-bin telling Park Se-woong, "You can hold him," encouraging him. Afterward, Park Se-woong threw sliders and forkballs in succession to Kwon Dong-jin, resulting in an out on a ground ball to second base, ending the inning without allowing any runs.

Son Seong-bin sighed, saying, "Videos of me doing well should circulate... but if I make one mistake, tons of memes will be created," yet he added, "The reason I do this with pitchers is that each player requires a different approach. Some players need to be spoken to firmly to get their attention, while others need to be approached gently." He continued, "I have to speak more firmly to Jin-wook and Jun-yong to keep them focused. But for Jeong-min, Gyun-an, and Se-woong, I take my time, breathe slowly, and speak gently."

He is also deepening his chemistry with foreign pitchers. Son Seong-bin explained, "Alvin and Wisely are both players with strong personalities, so we talk a lot. Wisely tends to watch the batter's reactions closely. What a catcher sees in a batter's reaction can differ from what is seen on the mound. There are parts I miss. When they are confident, I respect them; when I am confident, I keep pushing even if they dislike the sign."

Son Seong-bin and Wisely, who had been syncing up well, also secured a victory together in their final appearance of the first half on the 4th against Suwon KT. After the game, Wisely expressed strong trust in Son Seong-bin.

Wisely said, "I think Son Seong-bin is a very intelligent player. He has more experience in the KBO than I do, so he understands opposing batters very well. His ability to adjust based on batter reactions is excellent. In terms of operating the game with a plan, I rely heavily on Son Seong-bin." He did not hold back his praise.

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*This content was translated by AI.