Lotte Giants Opening Hot Sajik Stadium “This year is different from previous years”
Reporter Park Ji-hoon [email protected]
Input: 2021-02-03 16:15:48Revision: 2021-02-03 19:03:50Published: 2021-02-03 16:27:51 (p. 17)
Son Ah-seop, Song Seung-jun, and Na Seung-yeop (from left) are training outdoors at the Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium where the Lotte Giants’ 2021 season spring camp is held. On the right, players are training in a group in a windproof green house. Minho Yoon Freelancer yunmino@
The spring camp of the professional baseball Lotte Giants is giving off an unusual energy.
On the 3rd, on the 2nd day of official training at the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan, Lotte players began training by shouting out loud voices without worrying about unexpected cold waves. Although we could not find a warm overseas training site due to Corona 19, the morale of players to win the Korean Series is hotter than in previous years.
Lotte players contend that cold weather cannot be an obstacle to training. An official from the club explained, “Currently, 10 clubs are under the same conditions, so it cannot be a handicap,” he said.
Formal training is quick and efficient
Senior athletes personal training example
‘Synergy effect’ through autonomous efforts
Strayley joined earlier than expected
Director Huh Moon-hoe “I am proud of the players”
Son Ah-seop “Enthusiasm is great as a whole.”
The enthusiasm of each player to play one step further than others is raising the morale of the Giants club as a whole. Manager Huh Moon-hoe also expressed surprise and anticipation at the changed appearance of the players. Director Huh is pursuing efficiency and is conducting short formal training. Instead, the players autonomously try to find and fill their own shortcomings, and this creates positive synergy.
Coach Huh said, “The players prepared a lot during the break. They got better than last year’s spring camp. I’m proud as a coach. I have less worries.”
The joining of Dan Strayley, the pillar of the Lotte Mound, is also good news. The day before, as soon as the self-isolation on the 14th was over, Strayley visited the resignation stadium and greeted the teammates. The team’s flagship mood maker, Strayley, is officially joining the training on the 5th, but he came out early to do weight training and is raising the team atmosphere.
This is the point that the senior players of the team, such as Song Seung-jun and Son A-seop, are also different. Song Seung-joon said, “Everyone comes out early in the morning and focuses on personal training,” and “The youngest Na Seung-yeop sees the training of his seniors and learns. It feels like seeing a harmonious family these days.”
In particular, Lee Dae-ho’s contract as a free agent who made a promise to win became a catalyst for team morale. Song Seung-joon explained, “Vaguely, this year, we came with a bigger message than we wanted to win,” he said. “After seeing the beautiful finish of the club and Lee Dae-ho, my juniors also got a belief that I can do that if I do well.
Son Ah-seop, who was the captain in the 2019 season, said that he feels similar to Song Seung-jun. Son Ah-seop said, “Early in the morning, the weight training ground is full. The enthusiasm of the entire squad is great, and the junior players have their own routines, so it is positive.”
Son Ah-seop also drew a clearer goal for’Autumn Baseball’. He raised his voice, saying, “The autumn baseball stage is different from the regular game,” and “I prepared to win every season, but I have a longing for the thrill.”
In addition, as a senior team member, we are preparing step by step to the championship. Son Ah-seop said, “Daeho’s pledge gave the team a clear sense of goal. We set specific goals by talking with the director and Daeho.”
Reporter Park Ji-hoon [email protected]