Samsung Lions captain Koo Ja-wook (outfielder) made contact for the first time in 16 days on the 16th. Will this home run signal an end to his prolonged slump? Koo was selected as the starting left fielder batting sixth during the home game against the SSG Landers held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

Before the game, manager Park Jin-man met with the press and noted about Koo, who ended a four-game hitless streak with an infield hit in the game on the 8th, "His solid hit rate hasn't been high until now, but I expect that as he got a solid hit yesterday, he will gradually regain his pace."

Manager Park Jin-man also added, "I plan to use Koo in a comfortable batting order until he regains his pace." The starting lineup for Samsung was arranged with shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, center fielder Kim Sung-yoon, third baseman Kim Young-woong, catcher Kang Min-ho, first baseman Lewin Diaz, left fielder Koo Ja-wook, designated hitter Park Byung-ho, second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk, and right fielder Yoon Jung-bin.

In the second inning, Koo struck out swinging against SSG starter Drew Anderson, but in the fifth inning, he broke the scoreless tie with a powerful hit as the leadoff batter. He pulled Anderson's first pitch, a 151 km/h fastball, and sent it into the right field stands. The distance was 120 meters. This was his third home run of the season and his first home run in 16 days since the game against NC on the 25th of last month.

KBSN Sports commentator Jang Seong-ho, a legend with 2,100 hits, 221 home runs, and 1,043 RBIs, was positive about Koo's big home run: "He effortlessly hit a slightly elevated four-seam fastball and created a very big hit. At this point, it's fair to say he has completely escaped his hitting slump."

After hitting the home run, Koo Ja-wook entered the dugout, embraced Kang Min-ho to express his joy, and his teammates celebrated his third home run of the season as if it were their own achievement.

Koo, who is perfectly fulfilling his role as captain and significantly contributing to Samsung's rise, emphasized, "I really have no desire for individual stats. If the team's performance is good, (as captain) I will be in the spotlight. I always think only of the team's victory," though he likely feels quite sorry for not being able to help the team due to his hitting slump.

Can Koo finally regain his form? At least the home run is a positive sign.

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