“It was fortunate that I hit a home run after coach Lee Jin-young told me to time the fastball against the opponent pitcher Kwak Bin, who throws good fastballs.”
The rookie outfielder for the professional baseball team Samsung Lions, Han Su-ho, had an unforgettable day.
After graduating from Sangwon High School, Han Su-ho, who debuted in the professional league this season, garnered attention for his exceptional hitting ability, making it hard to believe he is a high school graduate. There are even comments that Han Su-ho's batting stance resembles that of Major League Baseball powerhouse Juan Soto.
After completing the first training camp in Guam and the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, he marked his first home run during his debut in a home game against the Doosan Bears at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 10th.
On his birthday, Han Su-ho stepped up to the plate with two outs and no runners on base in the sixth inning. The opposing pitcher was Kwak Bin, who was the co-winner of most wins last year and a national team ace. With a ball count of 2 balls and 1 strike, he targeted the fourth pitch, a fastball (145 km/h), and hit it over the left field wall.
After confirming the home run, Han Su-ho clenched his fist in joy. Samsung lost 5-8, but Han Su-ho's home run was a silver lining in the defeat.
Celebrating a birthday home run and marking his first professional home run against a national team ace, Han Su-ho said, “It was fortunate that I hit a home run after coach Lee Jin-young told me to time the fastball against the opponent pitcher Kwak Bin, who throws good fastballs. I think I slightly lagged with my bat.”
Samsung fans sang a birthday song for Han Su-ho before he stepped up to the plate. Han Su-ho seemed deeply moved by the unexpected celebration.
He said, “When I stepped up to the plate, I was surprised to hear the fans in the stands singing a birthday song. I was amazed, but I think I was able to hit a home run thanks to the energy from the fans, and I want to express my gratitude.”
Finally, Han Su-ho shared his goals for the season, saying, “First, I want to remain in the first team, and if I can be a bit more ambitious, I want to hit 15 home runs.”
Meanwhile, Han Su-ho, a former home run king, excelled as the star hitter for Sangwon High School, recording a batting average of .321 over 73 games (243 at-bats, 78 hits) with 13 home runs, 73 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.996. The team explained shortly after the rookie draft, "Han Su-ho, along with Cha Seung-jun, possesses the best power-hitting ability among left-handed outfielders this season. He holds the record for the most home runs (13) among high school players participating in this year's rookie draft."
They also noted, "He is a typical power hitter with natural talent."
[OSEN]