'Hit 16 hits but only scored 4' — National team shortstop vacancy felt in 'offense, not defense'... The real 'AG gap' that must be filled in the race for fifth place

*This content was translated by AI.

The biggest concern regarding Kim Ju-won's (24) vacancy was shortstop defense. However, the reality turned out to be different. The void that NC Dinos felt painfully was in offense.

NC lost both home games against LG Twins held at Changwon NC Park on the 15th and 16. They suffered a one-run defeat, 2-3, on the 15th, and were heavily beaten, 2-9, on the 16th. In a situation where reaching the top five was urgent, this painful losing streak was a major setback.

Coincidentally, these were the first two games after the call-up for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team began. Only starting shortstop Kim Ju-won from NC was selected for the national team. This season, Kim recorded a.288 batting average (138 hits in 479 at-bats), 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, 83 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases across 121 games, with an on-base percentage of.370, slugging percentage of.445, and OPS of.815. He was a core player for NC's lineup capable not only of stable shortstop defense but also of extra-base hits, reaching base, and base running.

Initially, attention focused on how to fill the defensive void. Lee Ho-jun (50), NC's General Director, prepared early. Since Kim Ju-won-ui (CEO)'s call-up was scheduled, he had been preparing several players as shortstop candidates for a month, including Kim Han-byul (25), Kim Hwi-jip (24), Hong Jong-pyo (26), and Kim Geon-hee (22). For Kim Hwi-jip, he gained shortstop experience during the camp and in relaxed games throughout the season, while rookie Shin Jae-in (24) also played shortstop in the Futures League. Manager Lee stated, "We had already prepared a month ago," revealing his plan to utilize multiple cards depending on game situations rather than entrusting Kim Ju-won's position entirely to one player.

In fact, no major issues emerged in defense. On the 15th, Kim Han-byul started at shortstop. During the game, a pinch hitter was inserted into the batting order, so Hong Jong-pyo took over, and Kim Hwi-jip also moved to shortstop. For Kim Hwi-jip, this was his first shortstop defense in 52 days since the July 25 SSG Landers game, but he completed the game without major problems.

On the 16th, Kim Han-byul started at shortstop again. This time, he held the position until the end of the game and showed stable defensive performance. At the plate, he recorded one hit in three at-bats.

What remained unfilled was Kim Ju-won's bat. On the 15th, NC recorded seven hits, just like LG, but managed only two runs. In the fifth inning, after Cheon Jae-hwan (32) doubled, they created a scoring opportunity with one out and runners on first and third, but failed to score. In the sixth inning, after two outs, Kim Hwi-jip and Park Geon-woo (36) drew consecutive walks, but were stopped by Oh Ji-hwan's (36) excellent defense.

In the eighth inning, Blaine Cream (29) hit a two-run home run to narrow the gap to 2-3. Kim Hwi-jip walked and Park Geon-woo singled, creating another one-out opportunity with runners on first and third. However, when Seo Ho-cheol (30) struck out, the runner on third base, Oh Tae-sung (24), was caught in a pickoff throw, ending the comeback attempt.

The 16th was even more frustrating. NC hit nine hits, more than LG's eight, but managed only two runs. The momentum was cut off from the beginning. In the first inning, Park Min-woo (33) reached base with a hit but was caught attempting to steal.

In the second inning, Kim Hwi-jip reached base and Park Geon-woo singled, creating an opportunity, but a double play occurred on Lee Woo-seong's (32) batted ball. In the third inning, Kim Han-byul reached base with a hit, but Park Min-woo hit into a 4-6-3 double play. From the first to the third inning, runners were left on base in every inning, followed by double plays and grounders, preventing NC from seizing early control.

In the fourth inning, Park Geon-woo launched his 19th home run of the season, a 130-meter two-run shot, to take a 2-1 lead. However, that was NC's first and only run of the day. In the sixth inning, Cream walked and Kim Hwi-jip doubled, creating a great opportunity with one out and runners on second and third, but Park Geon-woo struck out, and Lee Woo-seong grounded to the third baseman on a single pitch from Go Woo-suk (28). Ultimately, only two players crossed home plate despite nine hits.

The manager sensed impatience among the players after the first loss. As every game became crucial in the race for the top five, the pressure grew: "We must win," and "I cannot make any mistakes here."

Manager Lee Ho-jun emphasized, "The players were trying too hard to do something, which led to stiff movements. Yesterday is yesterday, and today is today. Just play as you normally do."

Kim Han-byul's stable defense firmly filled the vacancy left by Kim Ju-won at shortstop. However, replacing a player who simultaneously recorded a.288 batting average, 18 home runs, and 30 stolen bases was an entirely different challenge.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.