Lotte Giants Open 2025 Season Against LG Twins

The Lotte Giants kicked off the 2025 KBO League season with an exciting matchup against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on March 22, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the team.

With Charlie Barnes taking the mound as the starting pitcher, the Giants unveiled a lineup that prominently featured Hwang Seong-bin in center field, Go Seung-min at second base, Na Seung-yeop at first base, Victor Reyes in left field, Yoon Dong-hee in right field, Jeon Jun-woo as designated hitter, Son Ho-young playing third, Yoo Kang-nam behind the plate, and Park Seung-wook rounding out the infield.

One notable adjustment in the lineup was Son Ho-young's positioning at the seventh batting spot. After being acquired in a trade at the end of March 2024, Son had a standout season in 2024, earning the title of 'trade jackpot'. His impressive statistics included 18 home runs, 126 hits, 78 RBIs, and a batting average of 0.317.

Despite injuries limiting his playtime and disrupting his rhythm in 2024, the Giants provided extensive support, even facilitating a short-term trip to Japan for him after last season to enhance his training regimen. However, the early stages of the spring training season left Son struggling, as he managed only two hits over eight games, posting a batting average of 0.091 and an OPS of 0.261.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung observed that Son seemed anxious during his at-bats, saying, "He seems to be trying too hard and needs to find his pace." This reflects a common challenge players face as they strive to meet expectations, particularly when they have previously excelled.

In Son's case, the pressure of living up to his past successes could be contributing to his current performance struggles. Kim added, "Sometimes when you don’t get a few hits, you become overly eager, and I think he is experiencing that." However, he expressed optimism for Son's performance on the season’s opening day, noting, "I saw some positive signs today."

Shifts in the batting order were evident as Jeon Jun-woo, a mainstay in the heart of the lineup last season, found himself batting sixth, a position he often occupied during spring training. Kim explained that this arrangement might be adjusted based on Hwang Seong-bin’s health and condition, indicating that flexibility will be crucial in their approach as the season unfolds.

The Giants have made considerable efforts to cultivate young talent, such as Yoon Dong-hee, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Hwang Seong-bin, all of whom enjoyed career-best seasons last year. Yet, the focus for 2025 will be maintaining their performance levels throughout the season. Kim emphasized, "What is important is how consistently they can perform given the high number of games they played last season. Sometimes, the desire to perform better can affect your pace. I’m concerned about that, but if they can keep their pace and mental strength, it should be okay."

The atmosphere at Jamsil Baseball Stadium was electric as fans gathered to witness the season opener, showcasing an eagerness that sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting KBO League season.