A leadoff double, a tying home run, and a game-winning hit. A sign of resurgence.
Han Yoo-seom (SSG Landers) batted seventh in the lineup in left field against the Samsung Lions of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Wednesday, going 3-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, one run scored and one strikeout.
The opportunity came in his first at-bat, when Kim Sung-hyun doubled with one out. The next at-bat, Han hit a seven-pitch curveball from Baek Jung-hyun for an RBI single. In her second at-bat, she struck out.
Han came to bat for the third time in the top of the seventh inning, trailing 1-2. With the bases loaded, he took a 2B1S curveball from Woo Gyu-min over the right field wall. It was his third home run of the season. He then came to bat in the bottom of the eighth with runners on second and third, but was thrown out on a grounder to the first baseman.
The teams were unable to tie the game at 2-2 in regulation, sending the game into extra innings. Han Yoo-seom came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. He battled with Oh Seung-hwan for 10 pitches before coming through with the game-winning hit.
Han has been in a slump this season. In 67 games, he batted .196 with 39 hits, three home runs, 25 RBIs, 14 runs scored and a .559 OPS. He was removed from the first team roster twice in June and July due to his slump. 안전놀이터
Since returning to the first team on May 5, Han hasn’t recorded a hit in three games. He came in as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk against the Busan Lotte Giants on the 5th, then went 0-for-3 against Lotte on the 6th and the Incheon NC Dinos on the 8th.
However, he warmed up with a 2-for-3 performance against Samsung Electronics on the 11th, and then went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and a run scored in the 12th to lead his team to victory.
SSG has fallen off the pace of late. In 10 games, they have won four and lost six. Their lead over the first-place LG Twins has grown to six games. They are three games behind the third-place KT Wiz. It’s good news for SSG that Hanyusum has sparked a resurgence, as they need to run away from the rising mid-table teams and chase down first-place LG.