'Post O Jae-il' hopeful and former professional baseball Samsung Lions infielder Oh Hyun-seok is making a fresh start with Ulsan Wales.
He graduated from Ansan Technical High School and joined Samsung in 2021. With an excellent build at 183 cm and 99 kg, he was a power-hitting prospect who posted a high school career batting average of .354 and an OPS of 0.970.
However, it was not easy in the pros. He did not reach the first team and in the Futures League he managed a career 173 games batting average of .225 with five home runs. He left the team after last season and trained with his alma mater's juniors while preparing for an entry tryout with Ulsan Wales, which earned him the opportunity.
At the opening ceremony on the 2nd at Munsu Stadium, Oh Hyun-seok said, "I'm trying to let go of many things I used to do and start over. I'm changing not only my training methods but also my daily habits." He is paying more attention to self-care, including replacing one of his two daily meals with a salad.
Reflecting on his time with Samsung, he said, "I was given many opportunities, but I failed to produce results, which is my responsibility. Now it's time to deliver results." He added that "I'm more desperate than before, and I'm more cautious at the plate."
Once a power-hitting prospect, he is now focusing on accuracy. "Forcing myself to hit it far doesn't work. I'm concentrating on making precise contact," he explained.
The support of former teammates who heard the news of his signing was also encouraging. He especially remembered the words of close friend Kim Ji-chan. "He told me, 'Now pull yourself together.' He contacted me today too and told me to work hard in my training," he said with a laugh.
Oh Hyun-seok did not hide his respect for his 'role model' O Jae-il, whom he played with during his Samsung days. He chose jersey number 36 at Ulsan Wales. That was the number O Jae-il wore during his time with Doosan. "He has been a role model since I was young. If 36 wasn't available, I considered 44, the number the senior O Jae-il used at Samsung," he said.
His goal is simple: to establish himself as a central hitter for Ulsan Wales and return to the first team stage. "Entering the first team is the goal, but I won't chase it blindly. I'll take a long view and prepare," he said.
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