Hit, triple, hit, home run, and double. Ko Seung-min (24), who was reborn as Lotte's all-around second baseman, has become the star of the milestone.안전놀이터
Ko Seung-min started as a second batter and second baseman in a home game against LG in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 17th, and swung five hits, three RBIs and four runs in five at-bats, including a home run.
On the day, Ko had a single hit, a double, a triple and a home run in a single game, recording a "Hit For The Cycle" as his 32nd cycling hit in the history of the KBO league. He is the fourth Lotte player after Chung Goo-seon in 1987, Kim Eung-guk in 1996, and Oh Yoon-seok in 2020.
Ko Seung-min had his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning with one out and no runners, and got off to a good start by hitting a 146km/h fastball by LG starter Detrick N.S. Ko Seung-min, who hit a 120km/h curve to hit a triple to the right-center at the bottom of the third inning, even played a troubleshooter by picking up an RBI single that his team was following 1-3. Center fielder Park Hae-min threw himself to catch Ko Seung-min's hit on a one-bound basis, but as the ball bounced out of his glove again, Ko Seung-min was able to settle on third base.
Ko Seung-min's strong batting performance continued in his third at bat. He was without a runner with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ko Seung-min, who encountered ENS again this time, hit a 149-km-per-hour fastball to garner a single to left. Ko, who even scored thanks to Na Seung-yeop's walk to push him to the ground, played a big role in bringing the mood to the game by tying the game 3-3.
Ko Seung-min's bat did not cool down. Coming out as a leadoff man in the bottom of the seventh inning, Ko hit a 117-km-per-hour curveball by Lee Jong-joon and drew a solo arch as the ball sailed over the right fence. The 105-meter home run meant Lotte came from behind to win 4-3. It was Ko's 12th home run of this season.
Now there is only a double to go until the cycling hit. Finally, Ko hit a 130-km-per-hour folk ball with one out and a third base chance in the bottom of the eighth inning, and successfully achieved a cycling hit by exploding a double to the right-center field. This time again, center fielder Park Hae-min stretched out his arms to block the ball, but the ball completely turned a blind eye to Park's glove. Even Park Hae-min, who boasts the best defense in Korea, could not block Ko's milestone. On top of that, Lotte's RBI single, in which the team raced to 6-3 lead, multiplied Ko's joy. In the end, Lotte won the game 7-3, continuing its hope to advance to the fifth round.
Ko Seung-min is considered one of Lotte's best achievements this year. As An Chi-hong, who had maintained Lotte's second base position until now, joined the Hanwha Eagles as a free agent after the end of the last season, the "emergency light" has been turned on for Lotte's second base. However, Lotte has discovered a new second baseman named Ko Seung-min, who has played in 110 games this year, posting remarkable growth with a batting average of .308, an on-base percentage of .359, a slugging percentage of .468, and 12 homers and 79 RBIs and five steals.
In particular, he has been showing off his hot batting performance recently. Ko Seung-min succeeded in recovering his batting average of .300 by exploding three hits, six RBIs and one run from five times at bat in the match against Sajik Hanwha on the 15th, and displayed impressive concentration by sweeping eight hits and nine RBIs in two games against Sajik LG on the 17th. His batting average for the season has already risen to .308, ranking 18th in the batting category.
Now, attention is being paid to whether Ko Seung-min will be able to enter the final entry for the Premier 12 national team this winter without being satisfied with Lotte's main second baseman. Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung, who was likely to be the main second baseman, will not be able to participate in the Premier 12 to receive basic military training. Kim Hye-sung, who received a special exemption from military service at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year with the gold medal around her neck, will not be able to play for the national team this time as the basic military training period designated by the Military Manpower Administration overlaps with the Premier 12.
Coincidentally, the Korean national baseball team has made a preliminary list of young players to replace the national team, and Ko Seung-min has also been listed on the 60-member preliminary list. "Any baseball player would want to become a member of the national baseball team," Ko hinted at his dream. With Ko finally emerging as Lotte's second baseman by breaking away from promising players, will he be able to carry the national flag on his heart.