Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, who is taking a wild step to attract the ‘2030 Busan Expo’, visited Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan and kept his seat until the end, confirming the victory and cheering.
The Lotte Giants won a thrilling 7-5 come-from-behind victory after nearly 4 hours of close combat against the Hanwha Eagles in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 13th.
Chairman Shin Dong-bin, the owner of the club, “inspected안전놀이터” the game to the end along with Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon. This is the first visit this season since the LG Twins game on October 8 last year. At the time, Chairman Shin Dong-bin comforted and encouraged Lee Dae-ho, a ‘franchise star’ who was holding his retirement ceremony, and also delivered his commemorative gift (permanent missing ring).
Chairman Shin Dong-bin, who recently invited new players and their families to the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil and held an event to present gifts, is called ‘Dongbin-hyung’ and is as good as ‘Yong-jin-hyung’ Jeong Yong-jin, the owner of SSG Landers, a ‘distribution rival’. It shows ‘baseball love’.
He is literally giving support on both sides of his heart.
Ahead of the 2022 season, ‘live ammunition’ was paid hotly to the Lotte Giants, who started to reinforce their power. Lotte, backed by support, signed a multi-year non-FA contract with Park Se-woong for up to 9 billion won over 5 years. In the free agent market, Kangnam Yoo (up to 8 billion won in 4 years), Jinhyeok Roh (up to 5 billion won in 4 years), and Hyun-hee Han (up to 4 billion won in 4 years) were caught. The recruited players are making a significant contribution to Lotte’s rise this season.
Prior to the match, a ‘Giseki Lunchbox’ was provided to all the first-team players, Futures (second-team players), executives and employees, and partner company employees. An official from the club said, “It contains the meaning of hoping that Lotte players and officials will maintain good momentum and do their best until the end of the season.”
Lotte players sent a message of thanks for the Kise lunchbox gift. Lotte veteran Jun-woo Jeon and pitcher Gyun-an Na posted a photo of their lunchboxes on their social media, saying, “Owner-lord, I will eat deliciously and do my best until the end of the season. Take care of yourself!” posted etc.
Lotte, who ate the ‘Kiseki Lunchbox’, won the owner’s intuition game. Lotte, who had won 9 consecutive wins in 15 years at the beginning of the season, fell into a sudden slump with 1 win and 5 losses last week and fell to 4th place. At a time when momentum seemed to be waning, he got his hands on the first game of the week and announced a pleasant start.
Lotte starter Charlie Barnes was knocked out early due to 3.1 innings, 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts and 3 runs (3 earned), but the bullpen from Jin Seung-hyun (1.2 innings, 2 runs) to Koo Seung-min (1 inning scoreless) kept the lead and won. Jin Seung-hyun, also known as the son of KIA Tigers head coach Jin Gap-yong, tasted his first victory in his KBO league debut. On the other line, Yoon Dong-hee swung a hard hit with 3 hits and 3 RBIs in 4 at-bats, including the season 2 home run. Seongbin Hwang experienced a ‘4 on base’ game with 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored.
After the game, coach Larry Sutton said, “I am more than happy to win the game the owner visited.”
Last season, after winning against Hanwha on July 13 and against LG on the 8th on the 10th, they won three consecutive victories in the home game of the new owner. Attention is focusing on whether Lotte’s momentum, which seemed to be breaking down, will rise steeply from this day.