The main second baseman in the '48 million → 115 million → 200 million' pinch runner...Now, I'm going for a 300 million batting average and a 300 million-year salary
The main second baseman in the '48 million → 115 million → 200 million' pinch runner...Now, I'm going for a 300 million batting average and a 300 million-year salary
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LG Twins infielder Shin Min-jae is sweating profusely at spring camp in Arizona, the U.S.A. Shin, who has risen from a pinch runner to the main second baseman, is aiming a batting average of around 300.
After joining Doosan as a nurturing player in 2015, Shin moved to LG in the second draft in 2018 while serving in the military. After returning from military service, Shin made his first-team debut in 2019 wearing the LG uniform. Due to his fast-paced strengths, he mainly played as a pinch runner and a big player.
He played the most with 94 at-bats in 81 games in 2019, and his chances in the first team gradually decreased with 32 at-bats in 68 games in 2020, 27 at-bats in 32 games in 2021, and 3 at 14 games in 2022.
With Yeom Kyung-yeop appointed as LG's head coach ahead of the 2023 season, Shin Min-jae has a new opportunity. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop appointed Shin Min-jae as a steal specialist in the first division entry. At the beginning of the season, the proportion of pinch-runners was high, but Shin Min-jae took the opportunity as Seo Geon-chang (current KIA) was sluggish at the second base.
Shin played in 122 games in 2023, posting a batting average of 277 (78 hits in 282 at-bats) with 28 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 37 steals, and OPS.653. Shin has solved the problem of second baseman, which has been a concern for LG for years. In 2024, he played a full-time season as second baseman, posting a batting average of 297 (115 hits in 387) with 40 RBIs, 78 runs scored, and 32 steals in 128 games with an OPS of .758. It was his best performance since his debut.
His salary has skyrocketed due to outstanding performances in the past two seasons. He became the first payee to make his debut with 115 million won in 2024 from 48 million won in 2023, and he renewed his contract with 85 million won (73.9 percent increase rate) for 200 million won after spending last year's career high season. He went from 100 million won to 200 million won.
"This year, we will have the first camp in the U.S. and the second camp in Japan, so I think we should raise the bat faster before returning home from the U.S.," Shin said ahead of the spring camp. "I weighed around 75 kilograms every year when I went to the camp, but this year I weigh a little less to 72-73 kilograms. I feel like I'm gaining weight, so I'm trying to lose it little by little."
After hitting a .300 batting average in the second half of last year's season, Shin unfortunately finished the season with a .297 batting average. "I think his batting average is just about that level if he goes back and forth between .29 and .300," Shin said. "To hit a .300 batting average, I think he needs to go back and forth between .31 and .300 to be able to achieve .300 even if he loses. I think I still lack a lot, and if I hit .300, I want to make sure. I will prepare better and do .300 this year," Shin said.
Besides batting average, Shin is also greedy in offense and defense. "I will play on the base a little more, and if I have a chance, I will also play more stolen bases," Shin said. "If I play in 1,000 innings, I should have a 98 percent defense rate."
"I think the defense should not be shaken, so I try to prepare more intensively for defense. After that, hitting and running base were good or bad, so you have to practice and find a sense of it, but there is no other way but to focus more on defense and do it a lot," he said.
He had 37 steals and 32 steals for two years. The number of stolen bases decreased as he was sidelined due to minor injuries in September last year.
"I will try to run more often this year if I have a chance," Shin said. "My goal is to distinguish when I should run and when I should not run, and to finish the season 토토사이트." "I think injury is also a skill. I need to manage it better. If you feel that you are not in good condition or feel that you are not in good condition, I think it would be better to let you know and take a day off. I think it is a better choice than to endure it and skip two weeks or 10 days."