"We will win the Japan match no matter what": Captain Han Dong-hee, "This is not a trip to gain experience" — A strong resolve

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I believe we must win against Japan no matter what."

Han Dong-hee (27, Lotte Giants), who has taken over the captaincy for the national baseball team, reaffirmed his firm determination to secure a victory.

Speaking with reporters at Gimpo International Airport on the 9th ahead of the national team's departure, Han said, "I finished the season safely and well, received the call-up to the national team, and even took on the role of captain." He expressed a sense of responsibility, adding, "I feel strongly that I need to perform a bit better in this national team."

In particular, the team has been on an 11-game losing streak against Japanese professional-level teams over the past 11 years since the semifinal victory (4-3) at the 2015 Premier 12. Expectations are high as to whether they can break this losing streak in the current tournament.

Han stated, "I believe we must win no matter what. We have had many discussions with the players about bringing a different result this time."

He also showed no intimidation regarding the precision of Japan's pitching and their fastballs. He expressed confidence, saying, "Baseball is all the same, so if we play well, we will win," and added, "Since the pitchers have good control and speed, it would be better to approach batting a bit more aggressively, which could lead to good results."

Lotte finished 7th in the regular season and did not advance to the postseason, allowing Han Dong-hee to have a sufficient rest period. Consequently, his time away from live game action was also long. He explained, "I prepared with the mindset that I need to see many pitches at the plate and first get my timing right."

What did Han Dong-hee hear from Lee Dong-wook, the new manager of his club team Lotte, before joining the national team? He shared that he received encouragement, saying, "Go do well and come back. It will be a great opportunity to learn a lot."

Among the players in this national team, Han pointed to his junior Kim Do-young (KIA) as the one who would stand out the most besides himself. He said, "I practiced hitting and batting practice together with him, and I am looking forward to seeing how much better he will perform." Responding to fans' anticipation for the 'Noh Si-hwan-Kim Do-young two-gun' performance, he replied, "We will try our best."

After completing his mandatory military service at the Armed Forces Sports Agency and joining the team, Han Dong-hee appeared in 109 games, posting a .306 batting average (126 hits in 412 at-bats), 25 home runs, 81 RBIs, 55 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .371, a slugging percentage of .544, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .915. It was a season where Han Dong-hee, who had long been considered merely a promising power hitter since his debut, finally broke through his limits and showed his potential.

Expectations for this national team are focused more on the batting lineup than the pitching staff. Players such as Kim Ju-won (NC), Moon Hyun-bin, Heo In-seo (both Hanwha), and Ahn Hyeon-min (KT) were selected alongside Kim Do-young. In particular, there is great anticipation for the core lineup that will be formed by Kim Do-young and Ahn Hyeon-min.

This national team also serves as the first starting point for a young squad aimed at the LA Olympics. However, Han Dong-hee stated firmly, "Our biggest goal is to win all four matches no matter what and return with good results." He added, "Since it is a team centered on young players, people say experience is important, but this is not about going to gain experience; it is about going to win no matter what."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original