"Kim Sung-yoon at 40 degrees, rushed to the ER in the early morning" — The .300-hitting outfielder departs, yet there is no hole... The reason Samsung's "three-game winning streak" stands out

*This content was translated by AI.

Batting average of 0.307 and consistently delivering standout defensive plays, Kim Sung-yoon (27, Samsung Lions) was sidelined by a feverish cold that spiked to 40 degrees, yet the team had no hole. This is why Samsung Lions are on a roll.

After falling into a four-game losing streak, Samsung secured a victory in an away game against Gwangju on the 13th and then moved to their home field in Daegu, where they embarked on a three-game winning streak. They narrowed the gap with first-place KT Wiz by one game, raising the possibility of reclaiming the top spot.

During the three-game winning streak, Samsung hit eight home runs and scored 28 runs. The dazzling performances of players who returned from the minor league are particularly noteworthy.

Earlier, Kang Min-ho, who had gone to the minor league for recharging, helped the team's winning streak by hitting back-to-back home runs in two games since his return on the 13th.

Next came Park Seung-gyu. Kim Sung-yoon (27) has been performing brilliantly this season with a .307 batting average, three home runs, 39 RBIs, 53 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, a .380 on-base percentage, a .403 slugging percentage, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.783, and a .345 batting average with runners in scoring position across 87 games this season, yet he was suddenly excluded from the starting lineup ahead of the game on the 15th.

Manager Park Jin-man expressed concern, stating, "(Kim) Sung-yoon was not feeling well, so he was taken out of the lineup. Several players were also in poor physical condition even during the heatwave break period; Sung-yoon similarly suffered from symptoms of fever and gastroenteritis, which is why he was sidelined today."

Park Seung-gyu (26), who took his place, delivered a flawless performance. Park had also returned from the minor league on the 11th and sat out the game on the 14th, but with Kim Sung-yoon's sudden absence, he stepped in to fill the spot.

Starting pitcher Yang Chang-seop was ejected after being hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning, leading to an shaky start. However, in the bottom of the first with one out, Park drew a walk and scored when Koo Ja-wook hit a home run. In the sixth inning, he reached base with a single and then scored on Choi Hyung-woo's three-run home run. In the seventh, he hit a tying RBI single. In the eighth, with one out and bases loaded, he added an RBI via a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

Ahead of the Hanwha Eagles game scheduled for the 16th, Kim Sung-yoon was again excluded from the lineup, and Park Seung-gyu took his place once more.

Manager Park stated, "Sung-yoon's temperature exceeded 40 degrees early yesterday morning, and he had to visit the emergency room. He is unlikely to play in today's game."

While Kim Sung-yoon's absence was painful, concerns were alleviated by Park Seung-gyu's dazzling presence. Manager Park Jin-man praised him: "Seung-gyu stepped into the second spot in the batting order and hit a single, connecting as a central batter and resolving things from the middle. He also delivered key RBIs late in the game. Seung-gyu played a role like a precious gem yesterday."

Manager Park Jin-man has openly declared a thorough competitive mode. The previous day, left-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun, who unexpectedly took the mound after Yang Chang-seop's ejection in the first inning, pitched 5⅔ innings allowing only one run to secure a victory. Yet, for the next game, Park announced he would start Lee Seung-hyun instead of Yang Chang-seop. Although Yang has consistently held his spot in the rotation this season, Park noted that Lee's recent performances have been superior, stating, "In professional baseball, it is all about competition."

Both pitchers and position players are given opportunities under the same criteria. The same applies to Park Seung-gyu. "When Seung-gyu gets such an opportunity and shows good performance, he will earn trust from the bench, which in turn creates more chances," he explained, adding, "In that case, he naturally must be placed in the lineup."

For players who remain in the minor league or serve as backups in the first division, motivation is most crucial. They must believe that good performances will always lead to opportunities. In this regard, Manager Park Jin-man actively grants chances to prepared players. Meanwhile, young players are consistently striving to seize these opportunities and grow.

The reason Samsung has steadily remained in the upper ranks over recent years and transformed into a strong team can also be found in this approach.

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*This content was translated by AI.