'Incheon Left-Handed Home Run Leader' Han Yu-seom's First Arc Finally Explodes in August → "Sorry It Took So Long to Break Through" with 2 Consecutive Home Runs

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers franchise star and "the left-handed power hitter who has hit the most home runs in Incheon baseball history," Han Yu-seom (37), finally broke his long silence by launching two consecutive home runs over two games.

Leading his team to the Korean Series championship with 41 home runs in 2018, and boasting 212 career home runs as of the 14th — ranking second all-time in franchise history for Incheon-based Lenders (including the SK Wyverns era) behind Choi Jeong (538 home runs) and first among left-handed batters overall — he nonetheless endured over 300 days of hardship before finally hitting his first home run of this season. The only other left-handed batter in franchise history to surpass him is Park Jeong-kwon (45), SSG Futures Team manager, with 178 career home runs.

In fact, Han Yu-seom suffered a severe batting slump this season. Through the 14th, he went without a single home run in 48 games and 152 plate appearances, while his batting average plummeted into the .100s. With no signs of recovery even after being removed from the first-division roster in May, he spent an entire 54 days in the minor league starting June 1.

For a veteran player whose five-year, 60 billion won contract was set to expire at the end of this season, some even described his situation as a life-or-death crisis for his playing career. Though he could have lost motivation, he quietly swung his bat under the scorching sun, preparing himself for another chance to return.

Sweat does not lie. After returning to the first division on July 25 and refining his batting touch with a .294 average over seven games in August, Han Yu-seom finally hit his long-awaited first home run of the season (his 213rd career) on the 15th. Once the blockage cleared, he immediately crossed the fence again in the game on the 16th, drawing two consecutive arcs over two days. The late-blooming first home run of the season erupted in August, leading to explosive power displays on back-to-back days. At the same time, with this home run, Han Yu-seom reached 2,000 career hits — the 76th player in KBO League history to achieve the milestone.

After the game, Han Yu-seom said, "Today's matchup was between aces, and I wanted to contribute to starter Avila's victory. Fortunately, I got some good contact. I'm even more satisfied that the team won," shifting credit for the win to his teammates.

On the streak of two consecutive home runs, he opened up about the emotional toll he had endured. Han Yu-seom said, "It took too long for things to go my way in games. I felt especially sorry toward the team, the manager, and the coaches." He added, "In games, I tried not to overthink but instead focused on doing my best with what I can do right now. I will approach each day with gratitude," bowing his head humbly.

Beyond batting, he has also been stirring fans' hearts recently with his relentless hustle plays. He stated, "I don't have the same defensive range as (Choi) Ji-hoon or other players. But I tried my best. It was a ball that another player might have caught easily, but since I got the opportunity, I wanted to live up to it," conveying a unique sense of responsibility.

Finally, Han Yu-seom remarked, "I really feel how fast time flies. This season is already coming to an end." He added, "Although our team's standing isn't satisfactory, I will do my best in the remaining games and win as many as possible," showing his firm determination. The franchise power hitter's resurgence is expected to become a solid driving force for SSG's season finale.

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*This content was translated by AI.