"Hit the pop-up."
Lee Woo-sung of the KIA Tigers was traded from the NC Dinos to KIA in 2019. At that time, he was approaching the age of 25. The reason KIA brought him in was to develop him into a future power hitter. Lee Woo-sung particularly showcased his slugging ability against KIA, hitting home runs. It was a stunning trade that sent the winning .300 hitter Lee Myung-ki to NC in return.
He has not yet become a future power hitter. In the 2024 season, he hit 9 home runs, the most in a single season. His slugging percentage also reached a career-high of .417 in the 2023 season. He has never had a season with an OPS over .800. Instead, he has grown into a solid hitter, achieving a batting average of .310 over 400 at-bats in 2023, and hit .288 in 2024 after surpassing the qualifying at-bat threshold for the first time.
The goal of a .300 batting average in qualifying at-bats still remains, but he successfully secured his position from a backup to a starting player and won a championship ring in the 2024 season. He also entered his 31st year. Nevertheless, something felt lacking, and a change was needed. Despite having a powerful build, the absence of double-digit home runs did not match the image of a future power hitter.
He attempted to make changes during spring training. It was the request from manager Lee Beom-ho and hitting coach Hong Se-wan. The aim was to increase solid contact rates and generate pop-ups. Solid contact creates BARREL hits and improves exit velocity. Pop-ups refer to the ideal launch angle for producing home runs and other extra-base hits. This can elevate both batting and slugging averages.
During camp, he consciously worked on swinging to hit the bottom of the ball, and results started to show. In the final practice game against the KT Wiz during spring training, he hit a massive home run that struck the upper portion of the outfield netting installed to prevent accidents. The day before, he also hit a double that cleared the center fielder against the Samsung Lions.
In the exhibition games, he has been producing even more significant hits. He began drawing impressive arcs with his powerful hitting. On June 10, he launched a sizeable solo home run against left-handed pitcher Choi Sung-young of the NC Dinos, and in the following game on June 11, he hit a grand slam against Choi Woo-seok. It was a sizeable hit that soared over the left field fence.
Lee Woo-sung noted, "The manager has always trusted me and given me opportunities, so I feel I can approach the game with a relaxed mind. Yesterday and today, I focused on timing for fastballs, and that led to extra-base hits." This was the result of consciously keeping his timing in front and swinging the bat freely.
He further explained, "During camp, the manager advised that it’s okay to be fooled by breaking balls or to swing and miss. He suggested changing the mindset that I must hit solid contact, and coach Hong Se-wan also told me to consciously think about hitting the lower part of the ball to lift it, and that has been a great help."
An interesting point is that the prodigy hitter Kim Do-young also received the order to "consciously hit pop-ups" during last year’s spring training. Kim Do-young dominated the KBO league with a record of 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Lee Woo-sung, now more experienced at the plate, is no longer being dragged along. His return to a fixed outfield position is also a positive factor. So, attention is drawn to whether this emphasis on pop-ups will evolve him into the 'current power hitter.' There seem to be signs of that.
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