“No specific position” Kim Min-seong, who also covers 1st base, revives with LG Super Utility

LG veteran infielder Kim Min-seong (35) put on a first baseman’s mitt. Covering up to 1st base instead of 3rd or 2nd base, the main position, aiming for a revival with the new season’s ‘Super Utility’.

On the 26th (hereinafter referred to as Korean time), Kim Min-sung started as a designated hitter in a practice game against the Netherlands World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team held at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, and then entered first base defense in the middle of the game.

Min-seong Kim, who has been playing for LG since 2019 after joining Lotte in 2007, has never played as a first baseman. He played 8749 innings in 1155 games (1022 starts), the most as a third baseman, followed by 1723⅓ innings in 264 games (197 starts) as a second baseman.

He also fielded 843⅓ innings in 143 games (89 starts) as a shortstop, but has no experience as a first baseman. However, in this spring camp, he is preparing for the infield all-weather by expanding his range from the main positions to 3rd and 2nd base as well as 1st base. 슬롯사이트

LG coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “Kim Min-seong will not be placed in any position. He also prepares first base on third base and second base. Especially in the case of first base, Lee Jae-won clearly lacks confidence in defense yet. In the second half of the game, Lee Jae-won takes the last at-bat and Kim Min-seong can play a role in first base defense.”

However, it does not limit its role to backup only. Coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop said, “When a left-handed pitcher comes out as a starter, Kim Min-seong can start at second base or third base. When Seo Kun-chang or Moon Bo-kyung are bad or the opponent’s record is not good, Kim Min-seong will be able to fill the spot,” he predicted various uses.

Kim Min-seong is one of Director Yeom’s favorite students. From 2013, when coach Yeom became the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) command tower, he made a leap to the starting third baseman, and until 2018, he played an active part in double-digit home runs for six consecutive years. He came to LG with a free agent contract in 2019, but his grades declined in the aftermath of adductor muscle and oblique muscle injuries from 2020, and last year he gave up the starting third baseman position to rookie Moon Bo-kyung.

Heyday has passed, but director Yeom still sees his usefulness highly. Coach Yeom, who is looking forward to the rebound of Kim Min-seong along with second baseman Seo Geon-chang and outfielder Hong Chang-ki, said, “I hoped it would be a camp to find one’s own, but I don’t think the process is bad.”

As Oh Ji-hwan was selected for the WBC national team, attention is being paid to whether Kim Min-seong, who is in charge of LG’s temporary captain, can revive as a super utility.

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