Will Yeo Dong-geon, who says "deficiency is the driving force for growth", fill the void in Doosan's infield?
Will Yeo Dong-geon, who says "deficiency is the driving force for growth", fill the void in Doosan's infield?
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Yeo Dong-geon (19, Doosan Bears) said, "I am not physically outstanding, so I have to work hard to improve my skills."
Players who started their professional careers in 2024 also brought up the word 'deficiency', which is rarely used.
Yeo Dong-geon, whom we met at the Icheon Bears Park on the 12th when the professional baseball team Doosan Bears held its final training camp, said, "I've always had a strong desire to fill in my physical deficiencies. The reason I try to be good at offense, defense, and defense is because of my deficiencies." He continued, "There are many things I lack, and if I try to fill them, I don't have time to be lazy. 'I won't be lazy' is a promise I made to myself."
Armed with sincerity, Yeo Dong-geon is expected to be a player who will breathe new life into the Doosan infield, which is inevitably changing due to the transfer of Heo Gyeong-min (kt wiz).
At 175cm tall, Yeo Dong-geon is considered short among baseball players.
He has yet to develop long-distance hitting ability, having only hit one home run in 47 games in the 2024 Futures (2nd division) League.
However, Yeo Dong-geon was known as a player good at 'offense, defense, and defense' since his high school days.
He honed his contact skills by swinging the bat countless times and also put a lot of effort into defensive training.
His constant efforts met with his 'fast feet' and he joined Doosan in the 2nd round, 12th overall, in the 2024 rookie draft.
Yeo Dong-geon, who played in the Futures League with a batting average of 0.279 (34 hits in 122 at-bats), 12 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.345, and a slugging percentage of 0.377, successfully entered the first team on September 1.
Yeo Dong-geon, who played as a pinch runner in the first team, made his first start as the 8th batter and second baseman in the game against SSG Landers at Jamsil on September 23, hitting 1 hit in 2 at-bats.
On September 28th, in the team's last regular season game against the Changwon NC Dinos, he recorded his first multi-hit game (2 or more hits in a game) with 2 hits in 5 at-bats.
There are many happy memories, but the scene that Yeo Dong-geon recalls most often is the last at-bat in the first game of the wild card match against KT (October 2nd, Jamsil).
In the bottom of the 9th inning, with Doosan trailing 0-4, Yeo Dong-geon, who appeared as a pinch hitter with 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd base, struck out on three pitches against KT closer Park Young-hyun.
Yeo Dong-geon recalled, "The last pitcher I faced in the KBO League this year was senior Park Young-hyun," and "the speed (147 km/h) at the time of the strikeout was not something I had never seen before, but I had 스포츠토토사이트 never seen a pitch move like that."
I can't undo the strikeout I suffered that day, but I can meet Park Young-hyun again.
Yeo Dong-geon said, "Since that day, I've been thinking about 'how should I respond to such a pitch? '" and added, "Even if I strike out nine times, if my hitting skills improve, I think I'll be able to hit a good ball on the tenth time. Next time I meet senior Park Young-hyun, even if I strike out again, I want to respond better than that time."
I have already enjoyed the effects of my worries.
Yeo Dong-geon laughed and said, "After seeing senior Park Young-hyun's pitches, I went to the Japanese Phoenix Training League and the Japanese pitchers' pitches were just right."
Yeo Dong-geon's role model is Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Despite his small stature (175 cm), Betts is dominating the American major leagues.
He also receives absolute support from fans for his dedication to the team.
Yeo Dong-geon said, "I like Betts' aura, his gaze, and his attitude toward baseball," and added, "There are both eccentrics and wise men in the major leagues, and Betts is one of the latter. I want to become a player like Betts."
Yeo Dong-geon is from the 'Doo-rin-i' (Doosan children's fan group).
At Dustin Nippert's retirement ceremony held on September 14th of this year, 'fandom' surged and tears flowed.
Yeo Dong-geon said, "Even the seniors who played with Nippert didn't cry, so I felt embarrassed that I cried," and added, "I remembered the times when I cheered on him on TV when I was young, and I cried without realizing it."
Yeo Dong-geon, who succeeded in joining Doosan, which was his first goal, also achieved his goal of playing in the first team in his first professional season.
Yeo Dong-geon said, "Opportunities come to those who are prepared. Next year, even if I am not a starter right away, I want to establish myself as a backup player who can help the team."
It was a goal that contained the will to strengthen the foundation.
Yeo Dong-geon is in no hurry, but the opportunity may come sooner than expected.
As Doosan's starting third baseman Heo Kyung-min signed a four-year, up to 4 billion won contract with KT, there will be competition for starting positions at shortstop and third base, two positions in the Doosan infield, in 2025.
Yeo Dong-geon is mentioned as a 'starting candidate' for both the shortstop and third base positions.
If starting second baseman Kang Seung-ho moves to third base, Yeo Dong-geon may focus on competing for the starting spot at shortstop or second base, where he is familiar.
Yeo Dong-geon said, "Ultimately, my goal is to become a starting player, but I need to be competitive first," and added, "I will focus on improving my skills during the final training camp, off-season, and spring camp."