(Yu) Kang-nam said, 'There is something more important than records and statistics.'
Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung emphasized that '2025 is really important for Yu Kang-nam' during a meeting with reporters at the first practice match of the 2nd spring camp against the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball held on the 23rd at Nango Stadium in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
Having been a one-club man for the LG Twins, Yu Kang-nam exercised his free agent rights before the 2023 season, signing a mega contract with Lotte worth a total of 8 billion won (4 billion won signing bonus, 3.4 billion won annual salary, and 600 million won options). After Kang Min-ho left for the Samsung Lions, Lotte invested heavily by selecting Yu Kang-nam as the new owner of the catcher's position in Sajik Stadium.
Contrary to expectations, Yu Kang-nam's life in Busan was filled with adversity. In his first year, he batted .261 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs over 121 games, falling short of expectations, and during the 2024 season, he struggled with a .191 batting average, 5 home runs, and 20 RBIs over 52 games before suffering an injury to his left knee, which led to his exclusion from the first team roster on June.
In mid-July, Yu Kang-nam underwent surgery to repair the medial meniscus of his left knee and faced the pain of being sidelined for the season. It was a major operation that required a rehabilitation period of 7 months.
The responsibility of 8 billion won was immense. Yu Kang-nam put his struggles and injuries behind him and diligently followed his rehabilitation program to meet the expectations of Lotte fans on the field. He even lost an impressive 13 kg to avoid putting strain on his surgically repaired knee. This was a clear indication of his determination to bounce back.
As a result, Yu Kang-nam joined the Taiwan 1st spring camp and regained his form by recording multiple hits in an intra-squad game. He is quickly improving his performance in Miyazaki, Japan, where the 2nd spring camp is currently underway. On the 23rd, he also recorded a hit after being substituted in the game against Seibu.
So, what does the manager expect from Yu Kang-nam, who is in his third year of free agency? Kim Tae-hyung, who has a knack for managing catchers, opened the dialogue by saying, 'Isn't there a feeling beyond statistics?' He emphasized, 'It's not about evaluating (Yu) Kang-nam by any records or statistics. What matters is how well he leads the team as the starting catcher. Of course, it would be nice if he could hit .300 with 20 home runs, but Kang-nam has responsibilities as a catcher, so I expect that from him. The priority is to guard the team's home plate full-time.'
On the previous day, Lotte faced Seibu with an offensive lineup including Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Joon-woo (designated hitter), Park Seung-wook (shortstop), and Jeong Bo-geun (catcher). Looking at the players, it was such that the lineup could very well serve as the starting roster for the 2025 season.
However, the manager disagreed with the assessment that this lineup is the best roster. Kim Tae-hyung firmly stated, 'Yu Kang-nam has to return to the catcher position,' expressing his hope for the comeback of the 8 billion won starting catcher.