“It was like a movie.” Lotte’s special rookie is really the 2nd Lee Jung-hoo.

In the first game in which he played in his professional debut, he even harvested his first hit and RBI in his professional debut.

For Lotte rookie outfielder Kim Min-seok (19), April 9, 2023 will remain an unforgettable day for the rest of his life.

Kim Min-seok started as the second batter in the center field in the match against KT in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 9th.

Kim Min-seok, who was called ‘the second Lee Jeong-hoo’ during메이저놀이터 Whimoon High School, was nominated in the first round by Lotte in the 2023 KBO rookie draft. 3 overall after Hanwha Kim Seo-hyun and KIA Yoon Young-cheol. As a fielder, it was the same as the first overall.

Kim Min-seok caught the attention of the coaching staff with his unusual batting skills, such as wielding 5 hits in 5 at-bats during a practice game at the Okinawa spring camp. Kim Min-seok, who accompanied the 1st team during the demonstration game, was also named in the opening entry and started to adapt to the 1st team stage in earnest by making two at-bats as a pinch hitter. Although he did not get hits in two at-bats as a pinch hitter, the trust of the coaching staff remained unchanged.

And finally, the opportunity to start the competition came. Before the game, Lotte coach Larry Sutton said, “It’s a good idea for a new player to start right away, but I think it’s also a good idea to go out as a pinch hitter twice to relieve tension and learn the atmosphere before starting.” Director Sutton’s intentions were right.

At the end of the 7th inning, Hwang Seong-bin’s timely hit to the left gave Lotte a valuable first point. Safe 1st and 2nd base chance. After a full-count battle, Kim Min-seok hit Park Se-jin’s 139km fastball and hit the right hand at the right time. Second base runner Noh Jin-hyeok scored, and Kim Min-seok’s first professional debut hit and RBI were recorded at the same time.

Finally, Kim Min-seok, who started a strong start, even hit a multi-hit to his self-confidence. In the bottom of the 8th inning, with 2nd out and 1st and 2nd bases, he attacked Kim Tae-oh’s 120km curve and hit at the right time. This time, second base runner Koh Seung-min scored, and Kim Min-seok’s RBI was also added. Lotte eventually won 5-3, and Kim Min-seok scored 2 hits, 1 walk and 2 RBIs in 4 at-bats.

After the game, Kim Min-seok recalled the moment when he got his first hit in his debut and said, “I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be like if I easily backed off, so I tried to pull as much as possible to send runners to second and third base even if I was out, but the course was good. It was more comfortable because it was a full count. I was very confident that it was a fastball. The other ball was also a fast-changing ball, so I tried to hit it with the timing of the fastball as much as possible.”

What did he think the moment the ball hit the infield? “It was like a movie,” said Kim Min-seok, who said, “Things progressed too quickly,” and he did not feel it yet.

Now, what is the next goal of Kim Min-seok, who has collected up to 2 RBIs on multi-hits? Kim Min-seok said, “I want to hit a long hit.” If he continues to be confident in his at-bat as he is now, it seems that he will be able to achieve his new goal in the near future.