*This content was translated by AI.
Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man (50) broke into a broad smile after witnessing Kim Young-ung (23), who hit a decisive grand slam home run the previous day (the 26th).
Kim Young-ung led his team to victory with a powerful grand slam home run during the Kiwoom Heroes game held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 26th. At the moment Kim's ball cleared the fence, manager Park Jin-man was captured on broadcast screens clapping and smiling broadly in the dugout, drawing significant attention.
Ahead of the match on the 27th, manager Park Jin-man met with on-site reporters and addressed StarNews' inquiry about his intense reaction: "The count was unfavorable, so I was secretly thinking, 'Just don't strike out,'" he said, adding, "But when he suddenly hit it, my reaction came out without me realizing it," while smiling.
He also mentioned that the team had faced somewhat difficult games during previous away series against Kiwoom at Gocheok. Manager Park stated, "In fact, every time we've played against Kiwoom at Gocheok, the games have never been easy. It felt like all the pent-up frustration was finally released." He continued, "Kim Young-ung had many disappointing moments until now, but yesterday he delivered a great performance in a crucial situation. Thanks to that, extra runs came in, allowing the team much more flexibility in managing pitchers and handling the later stages of the game," expressing his gratitude.
Regarding the secret behind Kim Young-ung's batting resurgence, Park pointed to his diligent efforts in the minor leagues. The manager said about Kim: "He significantly increased his training volume and prepared very well in the Futures League (2nd division). After hitting two home runs in a single Futures game, we judged his batting rhythm had improved and called him up." He added, "Even when he didn't make perfect contact, he was getting hits and gradually regaining his balance. It's a process of him slowly finding his own rhythm perfectly," offering high praise.
Park also shared his thoughts on the unprecedented record of two grand slam home runs in a single game. He remarked, "Whether during my playing days or as a coach, I believe this is the first time I've personally witnessed two grand slams in one game." He continued, "I remember former coach Jung Kyung-bae (currently with Lotte Giants) hitting back-to-back grand slams during his playing career, but seeing our team produce such a feat for the first time was remarkable. It's truly fortunate that we didn't get hit and instead scored ourselves," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
