'Persistent Stealing→Stealing→Stealing→Straight to the Base' Lotte's Hwang Sung-bin: "Grateful to Manager Kim Tae-hyung" Why?

*This content was translated by AI.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lotte Giants' leadoff hitter Hwang Sung-bin (29) brought victory with his speed. After the game, Hwang expressed gratitude toward Manager Kim Tae-hyung.

On the 8th, Lotte defeated KIA 11-3 in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium.

Having secured a decisive 10-2 victory over KIA on the previous day (the 7th), Lotte extended its winning streak to two games, effectively securing a winning series. Lotte finished with 38 wins, 2 draws, and 44 losses, maintaining its eighth-place position in the league. On the 9th, Lotte will challenge for a series sweep by fielding Kim Jin-wook on the mound.

Hwang started as leadoff hitter and center fielder today, recording two stolen bases along with 2 hits in 5 at-bats and scoring twice.

He shook up KIA's infield defense from the first inning. As the leadoff batter, Hwang hit a short grounder toward third base. Without looking back, he sprinted straight to first base, resulting in a safe call. He then successfully stole second base, showcasing his blazing speed. Eventually, when third baseman Rayeys fielded an infield grounder, Hwang reached third base safely. Later, during Han Dong-hee's sacrifice fly to center field, Hwang crossed home plate to give the team the first run.

In the second inning, Hwang was retired on a ground ball to second base. He made his presence felt again in the fourth inning. With one out and no runners on base, he faced a favorable 1-0 count. On the second pitch—a cutter clocked at 141 km/h—he hit a grounder toward shortstop. Once again, Hwang sprinted relentlessly and beat the throw to first base.

The next batter was Ko Seung-min. With Hwang on first base, KIA's starting pitcher Neill could not ignore the threat. Before even throwing the first pitch, he made three consecutive pickoff attempts toward first base. The moment the first pitch was delivered, Hwang immediately attempted to steal second base and was called safe. Later, when the opposing catcher threw down to third base, Hwang reached third safely and scored on Ko Seung-min's two-run single up the middle. In the fifth and seventh innings, Hwang made outs on fly balls. Before his turn at bat in the eighth inning, he was replaced by a pinch hitter and recorded an out, concluding his game for the day.

As of now, having played 65 games this season, Hwang boasts a batting average of .295 (69 hits in 234 at-bats), with 6 triples, 6 doubles, 20 RBIs, and 38 runs scored. He has recorded 32 stolen bases (with 6 failures), 17 walks, and 42 strikeouts. His slugging percentage stands at .372, on-base percentage at .343, and OPS (on-base plus slugging) at .715. In scoring position, his batting average is .310, while as a pinch hitter, it reaches an impressive .500. Over his last 10 games, his batting average has been .325. He currently holds sole first place in the stolen base category.

After the game, Hwang said, "The team's atmosphere has improved significantly recently. It seems this positive momentum is also reflecting in our game results, which makes me happy. I promise to do my best alongside my teammates to maintain this strong form throughout the second half of the season."

He continued, "I am grateful that the manager often provides valuable advice and consistently shows trust in me. Since he has placed my name as the leadoff hitter in the lineup card, I want to prove with every game's result and performance that this decision was not a mistake," expressing his unique determination.

Finally, Hwang added, "Team victory is more important than personal records. During the All-Star break, I will rest well and improve my physical condition. In the second half of the season, I will fulfill my assigned role to help the team maintain its positive momentum," reaffirming his resolve once again.

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*This content was translated by AI.