Will he be added to the list of Lotte’s signing success stories?
He finally showed up at Sajik Stadium. Lotte’s latest signing, outfielder Kook Hae-sung (34), has been called up to the first team. Kook Hae-sung batted sixth in the lineup against NC in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Sajik Stadium on April 24 and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. In the bottom of the first inning, he hit a big fly ball with two outs, but it was caught by the center fielder.메이저사이트
Kook Hae-sung can be described as a ‘cannon of bad luck’. After joining Doosan in 2008, he had a hard time getting a chance in what is known as “fireball” baseball. Whenever he did get a chance, injuries would hold him back. In 2018, he tore his cruciate ligament and had to spend a lot of time rehabilitating. Eventually, he declared himself a free agent in the Futures League after the 2021 season, but this time, the system prevented him from transferring to another team or staying with Doosan, and he became an “unattached” player.
Still, he didn’t give up on Korea. Dreaming of a second chance with the Seongnam MacPies in the independent league, Kook took a tryout with Lotte, who needed a big bat and an outfield transfusion, and two hours after the tryout, he was told he had passed.
And finally. Kook Hae-sung received his call-up to the first team and happily headed to Sajik Stadium. He was called up to the first team after playing just one game for the second team.
“I didn’t think anything of it. I felt excited from the moment I was called up to the first team,” said Kook Hae-sung. In particular, Lotte players gave him words of encouragement, saying, “You’ve come back to the pros after a hard time, so do well,” and coach Larry Sutton said, “Relax and enjoy it,” which gave him even more strength. “Everyone was very welcoming,” she remembers.
This year, Lotte has many players who have done well in their new Lotte uniforms. In particular, players such as Kim Sang-soo and Ahn Kwon-soo, who came to Lotte after being released by other teams, have been loved by Busan fans for their Altoan-like performances. Kook Hae-seong also wants to take over the ‘baton’ from them. “There are many players who have done well after coming to Lotte as free agents or after being released from other teams. I want to be able to integrate into the team and do well,” said Kook Hae-sung.