When the league’s best table setters, Hong Chang-ki and Moon Seong-ju, fell into a recession, LG coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop took out an unexpected card. He changed the batting order by placing Shin Min-jae, who had only been appointed as the 9th hitter, in the 2nd batting order.
Number 2 Shin Min-jae was a game changer. Shin Min-jae scored 2 hits, 1 walk and 3 points in 5 at-bats in a match against the Hanwha Eagles in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park on the 11th. He stepped on first base a total of four times until an error went on base, and scored three times here. Every time Shin Min-jae leaves, good things happen to LG.스포츠토토
His first at-bat was an error at third base. In preparation for a surprise bunt, Noh Si-hwan took a more defensive position than usual, but Shin Min-jae’s ground ball was let go. Then, with Kim Hyun-soo and Austin Dean’s consecutive hits, LG got the first point.
In the second at-bat in the second inning, he got a walk with no runners out. It wasn’t a meaningless run. LG scored 6 points with 5 consecutive hits from 2nd base and 1st base. The fire created by Shin Min-jae’s walk led to Moon Bo-kyung’s two-run grand slam explosion. Shin Min-jae moved actively throughout the game, stealing second base after two hits in the 3rd and 7th innings.
Shin Min-jae, who we met after the game, said, “I was able to concentrate because I was trying to get on base. For now, I just focused on getting on base. I have to hit, I will choose a walk and go out. I tried to create a situation somehow because it could cause an error.” That plan worked 100% in today’s game.
Regarding the second batting order, “Honestly, the batting order did not matter. Instead, there is a big difference between going out as a starter and not going out. There is no big difference between 2nd and 9th times, and it is better to go out as a starter than that,” he smiled.
Going up to the starting lineup even as the ninth hitter means believing in Shin Min-jae’s defense on the bench. Shin Min-jae said, “I think the defense should pay more attention to handling ordinary balls safely than handling difficult balls. I think I need to fill it up,” he said, saying that he still lacks a lot.
He said, “During the camp, I played around two turns in the outfield and played second base a lot in the infield. I am continuing the training I did with coach Kim Il-kyung. Training is not difficult, but it is difficult to maintain this feeling. These are the things you need to prepare for the best.” revealed
Although Shin Min-jae is not yet at the stage to say that he is the starting second baseman, he said, “I had confidence from the beginning.” said. His last word was “I will do my best not to fall because I am not good enough.”