Samsung Lions’ Oh Jae-il got a taste of what it’s like to readjust to hitting in the Futures stage.
Oh Jae-il started at first base for the Samsung Lions in their home game against the Goyang Heroes in the Futures League at Gyeongsan Ballpark on March 30. He came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning, trailing 0-3. In the mound was Kim Yoon-ha, a rookie right-hander best known as the nephew of “Korean Express” Park Chan-ho.
On a two-ball, two-strike at-bat, Kim was tagged out trying to steal second base. On a full count, Oh fouled off a 143-kilometer fastball. He then saw a 142-kilometer fastball right down the middle, and he didn’t miss, hitting it over the right-field wall for a solo home run. Oh was all smiles as he was congratulated by his teammates in the dugout.
Oh is a veteran left-handed slugging first baseman with a career batting average of .841 with 205 home runs, 831 RBIs, 585 runs scored, 14 doubles and an OPS of .841 in 1,397 games (4,238 hits, 1163 at-bats). He signed a four-year, 5 billion won contract with Samsung in December 2020, 카지노사이트 and this is the final year of his contract with Samsung.
Despite a pivotal season ahead of his free agency,
Oh struggled in 11 games this season, going 1-for-6 (6-for-36) with one home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and a .619 OPS, and was eventually cut from the first team roster. In the Futures League, he hasn’t gotten out of his slump, going 8-for-25 with two doubles and a .252 OPS in 10 games. He has recently gone 25 consecutive at-bats without a hit.
Manager Park Jin-man recently said, “Oh Jae-il can only come up again when he is in top form. He has to create the environment for himself to be in the first team. Oh Jae-il is the centerpiece of our team anyway. His batting pace will help the team. That’s why we’re constantly checking his physical condition.”
“There must be a lot of things that are not working right now. I think he knows it because he’s been preparing since spring training, but it’s different when you’re practicing and when you’re playing. 메이저사이트 That’s why it’s frustrating because you know what you’re doing, but it’s not working. I think he knows what the situation is right now,” he added.
Oh Jae-il suffered from a severe hitting slump. He finally got a taste of what he wanted to do and regained his hitting touch.