The Lotte Giants became spectators in this year's free agent market. Everyone originally expected them to be a big spender in the FA market and to pursue the top free agents like Park Chan-ho and Kang Baek-ho, but they watched as those players found new teams.
Instead, Lotte plans to focus on building solidity and development. In addition to holding a finishing camp in Hyuga city, Miyazaki, Japan, they sent infielders Jeon Min-jae and Han Tae-yang to sister club Chiba Lotte's finishing camp. Also, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop and hitting coach Lee Byung-kyu went to the University of Tsukuba, which is well known in Japan for sports science and biomechanics, for about two weeks of training.
At that venue, Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop reset the directional focus of their hitting careers. They were introduced to adjustments to hitting mechanics and conditioning training appropriate to that. Coach Lee Byung-kyu learned how to teach the University of Tsukuba's approach to other players. The coach said, "The difference was the process by which players directly checked and internalized figures through motion data and movement programs. Isn't that different from accepting things by word?" He added, "There were parts I didn't know either. I felt a lot. Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop must have felt a lot too," and said, "I thought that if we apply these technical parts well, it would help the players. If we continuously use the training methods we encountered at the University of Tsukuba, I think things will definitely be better than this year."
Both Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop are hitters Lotte expects. The hope is that they will grow into mid-to-long power hitters who can hit at least 15 to 20 home runs. But both underperformed this year. Go Seung-min played 121 games with a .271 batting average (469 at-bats, 127 hits), 4 home runs, 45 RBIs, 71 runs and an OPS of .700, while Na Seung-yeop played 105 games with a .229 batting average (328 at-bats, 75 hits), 9 home runs, 44 RBIs, 40 runs and an OPS of .707.
He seemed to have succeeded in stepping up in the 2024 season, but his performance fell again. He appeared to be wandering at the plate and lacked direction. During two weeks of training at the University of Tsukuba, he again set his direction.
Coach Lee Byung-kyu said, "Both Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop need to be mid-to-long distance hitters on our team, and the University of Tsukuba asked what type of players they were. They said both are mid-to-long distance hitters, and the team wants that direction," and added, "They said they'd rather have players hit more home runs even if the batting average drops by about .020. The program was designed in that direction."
He added, "They said the average launch angle should be maintained at around 25 to 30 degrees. Our players' launch angles are all low right now. You have to accept that bat speed and ball speed may decrease. We practiced that part intensively and emphasized timing the swing well. We received a lot of help from them," explaining, "They showed what training to do, what routines to establish, and which training strengthens which physical parts."
Go Seung-min said, "There were many similar things, but there were also many new things. In Korea we were told to use the lower body well, but at the University of Tsukuba we checked with data how to use the lower body, how to gather and transfer force, and practiced that," adding, "I learned those methods carefully one by one. They were things I learned for the first time, and they seem good." Go Seung-min continued, "Even simple tee batting was filmed with more than 10 cameras, showing head speed, trajectory and direction. They explained so well how to hit to get a better batted ball with higher probability and how to hit well. I plan to use these methods well during the season."
In fact, they focused more on training to use the lower body well than on batting practice. Na Seung-yeop said, "We did a lot of exercises focusing on analysis through data, launch angle and ball speed. We did more physical training than batting." Both Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop were pointed out to have insufficient flexibility and limited range of motion. Based on the data measured at the University of Tsukuba, both players plan to focus on offseason flexibility enhancement training to grow into mid-to-long distance hitters.
There are no reinforcement points for the Lotte batting order for the 2026 season. Existing players must rebound. Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop stand at the center of the points that must rebound. Coach Lee Byung-kyu emphasized, "If they each hit 15 to 20 or more home runs, it will create synergy for the team."
The players also bear that responsibility. Go Seung-min said, "I declined in every area, whether power or contact. There is nothing left to fall, so I entrusted my body to a new method."
Na Seung-yeop also said, "At the University of Tsukuba I learned the mechanisms to perform as a mid-to-long distance hitter in the areas where my hitting was lacking. Since joining the Miyazaki finishing camp I have focused on defense and on making the hitting mechanisms I learned my own," and added, "How you spend the time before the start of next season will be very important. I will spend that time diligently without rest so I can be a player the team can trust and entrust responsibilities to."
It is up to Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop to prove Lotte's direction. The 2026 season depends on the determination of the two players.
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