"There is still so much to learn": The surprising sentiment of a senior sergeant nearing discharge! What happened to Lotte's Jeon Mi-ryeo... "Once I'm out, I plan to play baseball with everything I have" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

With his return to the professional stage after completing military service just around the corner, he is surprisingly expressing a sense of regret. Lotte Giants' top prospect Jeon Mi-ryeo (21, Armed Forces Sports Agency) looked back on his time at the military team and shared unexpected reflections.

Jeon met with reporters ahead of a practice game against KT Wiz for Korea Series preparation held recently at Suwon KT Wiz Park, saying, "I feel excited, regretful, and grateful. I have mixed emotions." He added, "The time I spent at the military team will likely remain as a memory I will never forget in my lifetime."

Jeon has been a prospect receiving nationwide attention since his days at Gyeongbuk High School. In 2023 on the high school stage, he recorded a 5-1 record with an ERA of 1.32 in 18 games as a pitcher. As a batter, he posted a .346 batting average (28 hits in 81 at-bats), three home runs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.032 in 27 games. He also led Gyeongbuk High School to victory in the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship.

Showing outstanding talent in both pitching and batting, he became known as a player who dreams of playing two-way like Shohei Ohtani of Major League Baseball (MLB). Lotte selected him with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft and offered him a signing bonus of 300 million won.

His start in the pros was also brilliant. Following the decision of then-Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung (59) to focus on pitching, Jeon made the opening roster as a high school graduate rookie. He pitched scoreless games in his first seven games after debuting and maintained an ERA in the 0th-point range until mid-April, quickly establishing himself as a key member of the bullpen.

However, trials came quickly. He began to struggle from late May and ultimately did not take the mound again after the game against LG Twins on June 15 of that year. His final record for his rookie season was a 1-5 record with five holds, one save, and an ERA of 5.88 in 36 games.

Pain in his right elbow also set in. Although he devoted himself to rehabilitation, recovery was slow, and he eventually underwent ulnar collateral ligament surgery in December 2024. In May of the following year, he chose to enlist in the military on his own initiative. This was to prepare for a new start while managing both post-surgery rehabilitation and military service simultaneously.

That choice gifted Jeon more time than expected. Emphasizing that he has no regrets about his decision to join the military team even now, Jeon said, "It has been incredibly helpful. I had managers and coaches who were better than I could have imagined. It is regrettable that I must leave so soon when there is still so much to learn. There is truly a lot more I want to learn."

In particular, the coaching style of Park Chi-wang (57), manager of the military team, was impressive. Jeon stated, "The manager is the type who lets players feel things for themselves. He says just one or two words, but he points out exactly what needs to be addressed. That has been a huge help, and I am grateful."

In fact, he re-established his pitching mechanics and pitch design at the military team. This year in the Futures League (KBO minor league), he appeared in 16 games as a pitcher, recording four holds, six saves, and an ERA of 2.30 over 15⅔ innings. With 15 hits allowed, nine walks, and 13 strikeouts, he also regained his competitive form after rehabilitation.

Jeon explained, "It is not yet time to be satisfied. However, I think the mechanics and pitch design I am pursuing have been established to some extent, so I am thinking positively. The manager and coaches managed me well, which allowed me to achieve good results."

Just like in high school, he also took the field as a batter again. This year at the military team, he appeared in 24 Futures League games, recording a .128 batting average (5 hits in 39 at-bats), one home run, and three RBIs. While disappointing compared to his pitching stats, he found meaning in having tried various things.

Jeon looked back, saying, "Both pitching and batting were good. I am grateful just for being allowed to do both all this time. Even though I did not perform that well, learning many things was a great help."

At the military team, he also learned from athletes in other sports. In particular, he learned explosive power training exercises like the snatch and clean from a weightlifter and applied them to his training. He laughed and said, "Compared to players who are good at weight training at the military team, I am nothing. I learned a lot from my senior who is a weightlifter. Exchanging ideas with athletes in other sports is taking me in a good direction."

He is also preparing a new pitch. Jeon revealed, "I am learning the kick changeup from my senior (Jin) Seung-hyun and have been practicing for about a year. It does not work well yet, but I hope the day comes when it fits my hand. I keep practicing."

The day he returns to Lotte is less than two weeks away. The situation has changed significantly since his enlistment. Lotte has parted ways with manager Kim Tae-hyung and is preparing a new start under new manager Lee Dong-wook (52). Jeon smiled and said, "When I return, I will have to adapt anew. I will watch closely from the side to see what style the manager prefers and adapt accordingly."

He was cautious about whether he would continue playing two-way. Jeon said, "It is not something that happens just because I say so," keeping his words limited. However, when asked what he wants to do most after discharge, he beamed with a smile, saying, "There is nothing but baseball."

Jeon reaffirmed his resolve, saying, "I don't think there is anything specific [I want to do]. I did everything I wanted during my leave. Now that I am going out, I must work hard at baseball. I will play baseball with all my might so that Lotte can also make it to the postseason." He added, "It was really good that I could try many things at the military team. Even if things do not go well, there are things I have learned and realized, so I always think positively."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original