The Samsung Lions are in their first real game of spring training. They came up short against the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Junichi Dragons.
The Samsung Lions, led by head coach Park Jin-man, lost 4-10 to the Junichi Dragons in a scrimmage at Akama Ballpark in Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 11.
As it was their first exhibition game, the team focused less on the result and more on the lessons learned. According to Samsung, manager Park Jin-man said, “It was the first practice game of spring training. “We’ve been training every day, so we still don’t have a good sense of practice,” Park said. “We’ll improve our sense of practice through practice games, and we’ll be able to identify and make up for our shortcomings.
At the plate, Kim Ji-chan shined. In her three at-bats, she singled to right, doubled to center, and drew a walk.
After the game, Kim said, “My hitting coach told me to swing aggressively from the first pitch before the game.” “I swung aggressively in my first at-bat, but in my second and third at-bats, I saw a lot of pitches because the pitcher’s speed and delivery were shaky. I think I made the best choice because the pitcher was shaky, and I think it’s important to read the flow of the game and play baseball according to the situation at the time.”
Last year, Kim showed great power with a .292 batting average and a .408 on-base percentage. His aggressive hitting and excellent eye baseball skills were on display in the first spring training game.
“My body is in great shape right now,” Kim said. I’m confident that I will prepare well to not only complete spring training but also to maintain good physical condition until the end of the season.”
On the mound, Park Kwon-hoo stood out. Samsung started Hwang Dong-jae and followed him with Lee Seung-min. Park took the mound in the fourth inning and pitched two shutout innings with only one walk and no hits.
“It was my first spring training game, but I didn’t think too much about it because it’s baseball I play every day,” Park said. “I pitched well, but my process wasn’t 스포츠토토 good. I gave up a walk to the first batter and my pitching balance was not good. In the next game, I will prepare well so that I can be satisfied with both the process and the result.”
In the eighth inning, Kim Young-woong hit a double to right field and Gong Min-kyu, who had been on first and third with no outs, singled up the middle. Kim Do-hwan followed with a single to left.
Samsung will continue to practice against Japanese teams before the Korean baseball teams move to Okinawa for their second spring training. Samsung will face the Nippon Ham Fighters at the same venue on the 12th, travel to Itoman on the 14th to face Chiba Lotte, play Nippon Ham (Nago) again on the 17th, Yomiuri Giants (Naha) on the 18th, Hanshin Tigers (Ginoza) on the 20th, and Nippon Ham (Nago) again on the 23rd.
They will then face the Hanwha Eagles on the 26th, the Lotte Giants (Akama) on the 27th, and the KIA Tigers (Kin) on the 1st of next month before returning home on the 7th after their own training.