SSG Landers Choo Shin-soo is training ahead of a practice match with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League of Professional Baseball, which will be held at the Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 16th. Daegu/Yonhap News
The domestic departure time of’Chu Chu Train’ is short. Choo Shin-soo, who settled in the SSG Landers, is expected to enter the plate for the first time in a demonstration game with NC Dinos, which will be held at Changwon Stadium on the 20th as soon as possible. Excluding SSG, the coaches and baseball commentators from the remaining nine KBO leagues will predict Choo’s performance this season.
Field managers forecast 30-20 home runs and more than 90 RBIs
As a result of the 〈Hankyoreh〉 survey, most coaches expected a batting average of 30% and more than 20 home runs. Doosan Bears coach Kim Tae-hyung said, “Basically, I think I will get my grades. SG home stadium (Literature Happy Dream Park) is short, so I will hit 20 homers or more at 30%.” “The team contribution will be greater than the individual performance,” he added. LG Twins director Ryu Ji-hyun also said, “Chu Shin-soo is not a style with severe ups and downs. I expect more than 30% and 20 home runs,” he expressed the same opinion. Samsung Lions manager Heo Sam-young gave a more generous evaluation. “A 0.310 batting average, 25-30 home runs, 90-100 RBI” is his expectation. Director Dong-wook Lee (NC Dinos), Moon-hoe Huh (Lotte Giants), and coach Matt Williams (KIA Tigers) also expected batting averages of more than 30% and more than 25 homers. Directors Lee Kang-cheol (KT Wiz), Hong Won-ki (Kium Heroes), and Carlos Subero (Hanwha Eagles) predicted more than 20 home runs due to the nature of a hitter-friendly home stadium, but expected the batting average to hit the second half of the 20s. Coach Subero said, “If things like physical balance are the same as when I played in America in my prime, I would show a good enough figure in the KBO league.”
Baseball experts, “may set a new record for walking”
What do baseball experts think? Commentator on 〈SBS〉 Lee Soon-cheol said, “Foreign batters are often deceived by bad balls, but Choo Shin-soo picks balls very well. Even if the speed and power are not as high as in their heyday, a good pioneer will lead to good grades,” he said. “It seems to be over 30% and hitting more than 20 home runs.” In addition, he predicted that “there may be a new record for walking.” The KBO League season’s most walked record was 127 (Lotte Jose, 2001). Commentator Shim Jae-hak 〈MBC Sports Plus〉, who referred to Shin-soo Choo’s performance in the big leagues, said, “The batting average has declined since the 2015 season, but the slugging rate has not. It means that you have power, and there are no signs or signs that the aging curve has come as the OPS (on base percentage + slugging percentage) has not fallen sharply. I think it is possible to hit 20 homers or more with a batting average of around 30%.” However, commentator Shim said, “The problem is Shinsoo Choo’s physical condition. The opposing pitchers are not going to play head-to-head, so we need to respond to it.” Lee Seung-yeop, chairman of the Lee Seung-yeop Baseball Scholarship Foundation, gave an unprecedented prospect that “’30 (home run)-30 (stealing base)’ will also be possible.” Chairman Lee said, “I think we can expect Choo Shin-soo this year to have 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and even 30 steals.” He had a batting average of 0.332 and 26 home runs and 118 RBIs at the same age as Choo Shin-soo (40 years old). In the case of stealing, the team seems to be restraining it because of the risk of injury, but batting average, home runs, and RBIs never seem impossible. Former Major League commentator Song Jae-woo, who is in charge of Shin-soo Choo, also said, “Because it is a ride-to-zer league, we will hit 30%. Shin-soo Choo pushes and makes a lot of home runs, but he will hit about 30 home runs.” It was evaluated by internal and external baseball experts that, unlike other foreign hitters, there is no need for cultural adaptation, so they will perform better.
SSG Landers Choo Shin-soo is talking with Samsung Oh Seung-hwan ahead of a practice match with Samsung Lions in the KBO League of Professional Baseball, which will be held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 16th. Daegu/Yonhap News
SSG expects’new water effect’
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung is scheduled to appoint Choo Shin-soo as the second batter at the beginning of the season. After that, we plan to operate a flexible batting order according to the team’s performance. Coach Kim said, “No. 2 through No. 6 are the most scoring. He said, “I will take Choo Shin-soo as the second batter for the batting order to maximize the scoring power.” SG will complete the league’s strongest batting order, which will lead to ‘2nd Choo Shin-soo -3rd Choi Jeong-4th, Jamie Romac-5, Choi Ju-Hwan -6th Hanyu Island’ if Choo Shin-soo plays normally in the actual match. Regarding the expectations of other club managers and experts, coach Kim said, “If the second hitter gives that grade, it is best. It is important how much adaptation to domestic pitchers is during the demonstration game.” SSG hitting coach Lee Jin-young said, “There is no doubt that Shin-soo Choo is in terms of skill. The team’s influence is great,” he said. “I think I will do well on my own. In terms of external aspects, it would be nice if existing players could create a synergy effect with the’Shinsoo effect’.” This means that we expect the ripple effect from Shin-soo Choo. Choo Shin-soo is raising his condition by focusing on adapting to the current squad. Since training outside is done in six months, they are taking more careful steps to prevent injuries. Coach Lee said, “Kim Kang-min, who is of the same age, is helping to adjust, and juniors such as Choi Jeong are asking a lot of questions about major league training. He was a Dougout leader in English in the major leagues, but I think he will play a better role in Korea.” By Kim Yang-hee, staff reporter [email protected]