During the week, Kang Jin-seong, who boasted the hottest feeling of hitting within SSG Landers, led the team to escape from losing streak.
SSG escaped from a 5-game losing streak by winning 2-1 in Game 12 of the season against LG Twins in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 20th. The season record was 56 wins, 1 draw and 46 losses (0.549).
On this day, Kang Jin-seong was named in the starting lineup as the sixth hitter and left fielder. In addition to defending first base, he also experienced outfield corner defense through NC Dinos and Doosan Bears in the past. SSG coach Kim Won-hyung expressed his anticipation ahead of the game, saying, “Kang Jin-seong is still good these days, so I wanted to maximize the batting side as much as possible while going out to the outfield.”
The commander’s wish has become a reality. Kang Jin-seong succeeded in getting on base four times with 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run in 3 at-bats. His 3-hit game this season is the fourth since the Jamsil Doosan Bears match on June 22 (4 hits), the Incheon SSG Landers match on the 6th of last month, and the Busan Lotte Giants match on the 16th (4 hits).메이저놀이터
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Jin-seong Kang hit LG starter Adam Plutko’s 4-pitch fastball with 2 outs and recorded a hit to the left, and at the end of the 4th inning, with 1 out, he pressed Plutko with an infield hit. After getting a walk with one out and first base in the bottom of the 6th inning, he made a hit against Myung-Geun Park in the bottom of the 8th inning with 2 out. Afterwards, he stepped on the home base during Go Woo-seok’s wild throw in the 2nd bases loaded, giving the team the lead, and the game ended as it was. It was only once in the bottom of the 8th inning that the on-base led to a run, but Kang Jin-seong constantly harassed Plutko and looked for a scoring opportunity.
After the match, Kang Jin-seong said, “First of all, I am very happy to break the team’s losing streak. I wanted to break the losing streak quickly in a situation where the team’s atmosphere could subside. I hope it leads to a winning streak,” he said.
Kang Jin-seong recorded 10 hits (1 home run) in 20 at-bats for a week, including this game, with a batting average of 0.500, 5 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.150, the third highest batting average after Austin Dean (LG, 0.538) and Park Chan-ho (KIA Tigers, 0.520). Although he did not start every game, he was traded from the Doosan Bears on May 25, and has been recording decent results with 33 hits in 108 at-bats in 43 games, a batting average of 0.306, 3 home runs, 17 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.819.
Kang Jin-seong said, “I always worked hard on practice even on days when I wasn’t playing. I’m happy that my research and effort while paying attention to the timing of hitting has recently led to good results.” I want to help the team by doing my best at the given opportunity,” he said, expressing his determination for the future.