Oh Sun-jin (34) is saying a “second goodbye” to the Hanwha Eagles. “It’s really unfortunate to leave the team again just a year after returning to Hanwha,” Oh said weakly, “but I know that new encounters can be motivating. The Lotte Giants have given me a chance, so I’ll do my best to show them what I can do. “Oh was selected by Lotte with the ninth overall pick in the second round of the 2023 Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Draft on June 22. With a void in the outfield after Ahn Chi-hong signed a free agent (FA) contract with Hanwha for up to six years and a total of 7.2 billion won ($7.2 million), Lotte selected Oh and Choi Hang (formerly of SSG Landers) in the second round. “I signed a FA contract (1+1 years, up to 400 million won) with Hanwha last November,” Oh said. I was really happy to come back to the place where I started my professional career (2008).” “It’s unfortunate that I had to leave the team again after a year, but professional players have to accept it. Manager Son Hyuk said, ‘I’m sorry,’ but it’s really okay. I understand the club’s situation,” he said.
“I’m grateful to Lotte for nominating me while investing quite a bit of money (300 million won in second-round compensation),” he said, adding, “Lotte is the most popular team in the KBO. We will work hard to prepare for the 2023 season so that our fans will not be disappointed. “For Oh, Lotte is also a “reunion” for him, as he is sad to say goodbye to the Hanwha players who were like brothers .”I have a strong relationship with the Lotte coaches. Coach Ko Young-min is a senior at Seongnam High School. I played with Coach Kim Min-jae at Hanwha, and Coach Kim Kwang-soo was the head coach at Hanwha,” he said. “It’s also strange to see Lee Sung-gon, who I now have to call Coach, again.” After playing for Hanwha, Oh moved to the Samsung Lions in June 2021 in a one-for-one trade for outfielder Lee Sung-gon. The two became “teammates” when Oh returned to Hanwha in 2023.Lee recently announced his retirement from baseball and decided to begin his coaching career as an assistant hitting coach for the Lotte Futures.
“A few days ago, I met Sung-gon at the Hanwha training center in Seosan, and he said, ‘I’m starting a new life as a Lotte coach,'” Oh said. I said, ‘You’re starting your coaching career with a good team, so don’t be too sad. I replied, ‘I’ll just say congratulations,’ but we met again at Lotte.” He laughed and said, “I’ll serve you strictly as a coach now.” Oh batted .276 with three home runs and 24 RBIs in 100 games for Samsung in 2022, splitting time between starter and backup .This year, he hit .230 with 14 RBIs in 90 games. He was hit in the jaw by a pitch and had a disappointing turn at the plate, but he was recognized for his defense.” I really wanted to be a member of the championship team at Hanwha, which hasn’t won a championship since 1999. I left without achieving my goal, and I’m sorry to the fans,” Oh said. “Now my goal is to win a championship with the Lotte Giants (who haven’t won a championship since 1992). I don’t need to be the lead actor. I’ll be a supporting 스포츠토토존 actor who can help Lotte.”
