"Thanks to Dad's Lambada, I got 10 times the support": Lotte first-rounder Park Geun-seo vows to prove himself on the baseball field: "I want my name to be called first when people think of Lotte" [Busan On-Site]

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Park Geun-seo (18), who has certainly made his name known to Lotte Giants fans thanks to his father's "Lambada," now hopes to receive even greater support not as "the Lambada son" but as baseball player Park Geun-seo.

Ahead of the final home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season against the LG Twins at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 10th, Park said, "I feel like I've received about 10 times more support thanks to the Lambada." He added, "Right now, I'm receiving a lot of support for the Lambada, but since I am now a professional player, I want to play well and be supported as 'baseball player Park Geun-seo.'"

For Park, this day marked his first formal greeting to Sajik fans as a Lotte player. To mark the final home game, Lotte hosted a "Rookie Day" featuring all 11 rookies selected in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft. The rookies greeted fans directly at the third-floor central gate before the game, delivered their first greetings on the field, and presented bouquets to their parents who had supported them. They also took part in a photo session with the first division team.

Among them, Park attracted the most attention. The left-handed pitcher, who throws fastballs up to 149 km/h, received interest from Major League Baseball teams due to his steep growth this year but chose to challenge the KBO League. Last month, he was selected by Lotte with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the rookie draft.

The person who became just as much a topic of conversation as Park at the time was his father. When his son's name was called, the father suddenly took the stage and sang "Lambada" while dancing, turning the draft venue into a sea of laughter. Park recalled, "My dad usually tends to talk for a long time, so I told him, 'Let's just keep it short and come down. No need to make it long.' But he didn't speak at length; instead, he did it with a song."

Even his younger brother, who plays baseball and will enter Seoul Design High School next year, seemed embarrassed and laughed, as did his mother, but they actually welcomed their father's reaction. When asked if he inherited his father's flair for performance, Park smiled and said, "I'm not without talent, but I'm not at my dad's level. I am good at keeping work and personal life separate." He continued, "My younger brother was really happy when I was drafted, but Dad was even happier because he sang the Lambada. He said it was nice that he became famous. There wasn't a single person in the family who disliked it; everyone loved Dad's Lambada."

He actually enjoyed the unexpected "Lambada craze." Lotte fans have consistently linked Park with the Lambada, even requesting it as his entrance song. Park said, "At first, I really didn't think about it, but in fact, I don't have a specific entrance song in mind, and many fans want it." He added, "If I get promoted to the first division and use an entrance song, I think I might start with the Lambada."

However, what is ultimately needed to be remembered by fans for a long time is skill. Regarding his strengths, Park expressed confidence, saying, "I believe I have a fastball that doesn't lose in power. I also think I have a certain level of game management ability, so those are my advantages."

Currently, he utilizes his fastball, curveball, and changeup in actual games and is refining his slider again. Rather than arbitrarily increasing the number of pitches, he prioritized making his existing weapons reliable. His long-term goal is to become a starting pitcher.

Park explained, "I thought it was better to strengthen the pitches I already had rather than throwing many different types. First, I will refine my curveball and changeup, and later try to add more sliders." He added, "I do want to be a starting pitcher, but if there is a place where I can help the team, I think I should work hard there."

His first impression of Lotte was also strong. Although he had visited Busan during middle school to participate in a national tournament and watched a Lotte game at Sajik with teammates, this was his first time directly touring the team's facilities. Park said, "I went into the locker room, and it really seems very good. It was nice that all the senior players welcomed me." He added, "I think Lotte is a prestigious club that has maintained its reputation for a long time. Being picked by this team is truly an honor."

He also exchanged greetings with Manager Kim Tae-hyung (59) for the first time. Park said, "I thought he might be a bit scary, but he gave me a lot of good advice and treated me well." He reported that the manager told him, "Since you are a rookie, work hard like a rookie and show your spirit."

The senior player he wanted to meet was fellow left-hander Kim Jin-wook (24). Park said, "I had wanted to meet Senior Kim Jin-wook for a while. After being drafted, I followed him on social media, and I'm grateful that he accepted my request. At that time, I said, 'Let's do well starting next year,' but today there were too many people, so I couldn't have a proper conversation," offering an awkward smile.

The rookies' Sajik experience continues during the game as well. Park is scheduled to serve as a ball boy in the seventh inning with his peers, while other rookies participate in guiding fans at the Giants Shop and maintaining the field, getting close to the fans. They will also join the closing camp held after the season ends to begin their professional careers in earnest. And the future he has in mind is clear. Park boldly declared, "I want to become a player whose name is called first when the team name Lotte Giants comes up."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original