The 34-year-old outfielder can't end like this!

 

FA Mia, Independent League, KBO Return, Home Run in 838 Days...The 34-year-old outfielder can't end like this

Kook Hae-sung (34), who returned to the KBO League wearing a Lotte Giants uniform after playing in the independent league, hit a home run in 838 days. He recovered from a hamstring injury and is preparing to return to the first division.

Kook Hae-sung started as the fourth first baseman in the Futures League KIA second division at Mungyeong Stadium on the 28th.

In the first inning, he struck out against left-hander Lee Seung-min with two outs and runners on second base. In the third inning with one out and a full base chance, he hit a missed ground ball that fell in front of the catcher, and the catcher caught it and touched the home plate, causing the third baseman to be out. 스포츠토토

After two outs in the fifth inning, Lee Seung-min hit a solo home run over the left-center fence. He made up for his lethargic withdrawal from the previous at-bat.

Later, in his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning, he had a fly ball out to the left field, one hit in four at-bats, one home run, and one RBI.

It was the first home run by Kook Hae-sung in 838 days. The last time he hit a home run was in a game against SSG's second division on April 15, 2021. The last home run record in the first division was against KT on August 15, 2020.

Kook Hae-sung joined Doosan in 2008 as a fostering player and made his debut in the first division in 2012. He batted .238 in 214 games.

Kook Hae-sung, who played in the second division with only four games in the first division of the 2021 season, qualified for the Futures League FA at the time. After the season, he applied for the FA, but no team called him. Kook Hae-sung, who eventually became an FA lost player, continued to play baseball in the independent league Seongnam McFace in 2022.

In late May, Lotte announced a contract with the Ministry of National Maritime Affairs. Although the contact accuracy is low, it was Kook Hae-sung, who has long-hitting power, and he was recruited as a substitute for the outfield depth.

The national team was called up to the first division three days after the contract. He played in five games at the end of May and played well with two hits, two walks and one RBI in seven at-bats. However, as of May 31, he was placed on the injured list due to a hamstring injury and was excluded from the first team entry.

He has been in rehabilitation for more than a month and has now fully recovered. He recorded 3 hits in 11 at-bats in 3 consecutive games against the Futures League KIA 2nd division from July 28 to 30, and hit a home run in the game on the 1st.

Meanwhile, Ko Seung-min, who suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb in early July, played for the first time after recovering from the injury in a game against KIA's second division on the 1st. He played as the first designated hitter and recorded one hit and one RBI in five at-bats.