Lotte's first-team enrollment after 764 days in Korea...must seize opportunity for outfield roster spot

 Lotte signed switch-hitter outfielder Kook Hae-sung (34) to the first team on Thursday.


He was called up to the first team just two days after signing for a tryout. His last first-team game was against Sajik Lotte on April 20, 2021, so it's been 764 days since he last played in a first-team stadium.


Kook Hae-sung met with the team before the regular-season home game against the NC at Sasik Stadium in Busan on the same day. He chatted with the coaching staff in a cheerful mood and began batting practice with veterans such as Jeon Jun-woo, No Jin-hyuk, and Lee Hak-joo. Manager Larry Sutton, hitting coach Lee Byung-kyu, and first base coach Kim Pyeong-ho also welcomed the youngster, who has resumed his professional career after a difficult start.


"I watched his swing on video, and he has a short but powerful swing, so I think he can help the team," Sutton said, adding, "He can add depth to the lineup. We'll have to see what kind of batting order we put him in."


Kook Hae-sung joined Doosan as a developmental player in 2008 and played as a backup outfielder until 2021. His punching power made him a highly sought-after prospect that some teams were willing to trade for, but he never really blossomed in the first team because he was plagued by injuries. Due to various injuries, including a torn ACL in his knee, he exercised his Futures League free agent (FA) rights after the 2021 season, but was unable to find a team and became a "lost child.


He dreamed of making a comeback with the Seongnam MacPies in the independent league and joined Lotte through a tryout. Lotte was in need of a local outfielder, as Hwang Sung-bin and Jack Rex were injured. "Hwang Sung-bin is preparing to return, and Rex will decide when he will join the first team in about two weeks," said a key club official, adding, "Even if they return, we don't have enough right-handed batting options in the team. He's a switch-hitter, but he also has a good swing from the right side of the plate, so we thought he was a good fit." 토토사이트


Whether or not he makes the first team will depend on his localization. Now that he has fulfilled the requirements, he is standing in a Lotte uniform at Sajik Stadium. If he performs the way the team wants him to, his stay in the first team will inevitably increase. Even if his opportunities are limited right now, he can still make a difference in his baseball career if he doesn't get impatient.

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