Professional baseball player Park Han-gyeol (outfielder) of the NC Dinos, a '5-tool player,' hit home runs in three consecutive games, leading his team to victory.
On the 28th, Park Han-gyeol started as the designated hitter batting third in the home game against the KIA Tigers, which took place at the Changwon Masan Stadium. In the first inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Park Han-gyeol stepped to the plate but was out on a ground ball to third.
In the third inning, with a 2-run lead and one out with runners on second and third, Park Han-gyeol faced his second at-bat. With the count at 1 ball and 1 strike against the opposing starter Kang Dong-hoon, he crushed the third pitch out of the left-field fence. The distance was 120 meters. Park Han-gyeol also drew walks in the fifth and seventh innings, completing a game with three on-base appearances.
The NC Dinos defeated the KIA Tigers 6-3, avenging their 26th loss to Sangmu by a score of 7-6. Starting pitcher Shin Young-woo earned the win, pitching 5 innings with 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 4 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs.
Afterward, Lim Jeong-ho, Kim Tae-hyun, and Bae Jae-hwan each recorded a scoreless inning to earn holds. In the ninth inning, with a 6-3 lead, Kim Si-hoon took the mound and neatly closed out the inning to secure the save. Joo Hyo-won, batting fourth as the right fielder, hit his first home run against Lim Gi-young in the sixth inning, while Shin Yong-seok achieved a multi-hit game.
On the other hand, KIA's starting pitcher Kang Dong-hoon faced defeat after 2⅓ innings with 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 1 strikeout, and 5 earned runs. Choi Jeong-yong struggled with 2 hits, including a home run, 2 RBIs, and 1 run scored. Oh Seon-woo, batting fourth, also achieved a multi-hit game, albeit in a losing effort.
Park Han-gyeol, who recorded 1 hit, 3 RBIs, and 1 run scored in 2 at-bats including a home run that day, shared his thoughts on hitting home runs in three consecutive games through the official Instagram of the club's Futures team after the game.
He noted, "Since we lost in the previous game, I had a strong desire to win. I was often in scoring positions, focused in the batter's box, and prepared for the pitcher's breaking balls."
Park Han-gyeol added, "I was targeting breaking balls, and they kept coming together. After hitting the breaking balls, the rate of fastballs increased. Thanks to that, there were good results. I want to concentrate more and contribute to the Futures team championship."
Meanwhile, Park Han-gyeol, who graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and was selected in the second round of the 2023 NC draft, was anticipated as a '5-tool player' upon his joining. Up until last year, he had played in 40 games in the first team, with 80 at-bats, 17 hits, and a batting average of .213, but he displayed an impressive power-hitting ability with 8 home runs.
Park Han-gyeol demonstrated frightening destructive power last year, recording 7 home runs among 12 hits in 28 games (71 at-bats).
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