Lotte Giants’ Han Dong-hee Returns with a Bang: Stars in Spring Camp Opener

Giants Kick off Spring Camp with Victory

Lotte Giants opened their spring camp with a convincing 6-3 win over the Taigang Hawks in a practice game in Tainan, Taiwan.

Han Dong-hee Leads the Way

Han Dong-hee, who returned to the Giants after completing his military service, had an explosive game, leading the team to victory with a 3-hit, 3 RBI performance.

Quoted as saying, I have high expectations for myself. I am preparing with the thought that I can do everything well and that if I do well, I will definitely go to fall baseball.

After struggling in his first at-bat, Han recovered to drive in runs in the third, fifth, and seventh innings, capping off a 3-hit game.

Han’s Military Career Disrupts, But Not Halts Progress

Han’s military service disrupted his progress but did not halt it. Last year, as a member of Sangmu, he recorded monstrous results with a batting average of .400, 154 hits, 27 home runs, 115 RBI, and an OPS of 1.155.

Han also received help from Coach Heo Il, a former Cleveland Guardians minor league coach, and even sought biomechanical data from the University of Tsukuba to prepare for his return.

Other Giants Stars Contribute

• Son Ho-young went 2-for-3 with a triple, double, and a walk, while Reyes and Kim Min-seong also had multi-hit games.

Pitching Hold Taigang in check

The Giants pitching staff held Taigang to just three runs, with starters Park Jin and Koyama each pitching well in their outings.

Hong Min-ki, however, struggled, allowing two runs in an inning of work.

Giants Face Traveling Scrutiny as Stars Return

While Lotte players played a practice game with Taigang in a calm atmosphere, Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyuk, and Kim Se-min, embroiled in an illegal gambling scandal, were ordered to return to Korea.

Did You Know?

Han Dong-hee was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2018 KBO draft. He has hit double-digit home runs in each of the past three seasons.

Pro Tips

Han’s mindset has evolved since his rookie season. He says, I’ve become ‘I can do well.’ Before, I thought, ‘I have to do well,’ but now I think I’ve become ‘I can do well.’

Call to Action

What are your expectations for Han Dong-hee and the Giants this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!