It is truly a rise in status. Lee Byung-hun (24), who was the fourth catcher for the Samsung Lions, is expected to become the exclusive catcher for pitcher Albert Suarez (34).
Lee Byung-hun started as the 8th batter catcher in the Kiwoom Heroes game of the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 4th. He went 2-for-5 with one RBI and helped the team win 14-1.
He also shone on defense. On this day, Lee Byung-hun matched battery breathing with starting pitcher Suarez. He showed a stable sum throughout the game, contributing to Suarez’s 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts and no runs.
Recently, Lee Byung-hun has formed a battery with Suarez. On the 28th of last month, against Suwon kt Wiz, they combined a record of 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts and no runs in 7 innings. Although the sample is small with two games, he is continuing his performance with 14 scoreless innings.
When the Lee Byung-hun-Suarez combination was fun, Samsung coach Park Jin-man also changed his mind. On the day Suarez pitches, Lee Byung-hun will be used to achieve a battery sum.
Coach Park met with reporters ahead of the resignation Lotte Giants game on the 5th, which was canceled in the rain, and said, “I have been watching Lee Byung-hun since I coached the Future Steam team. He is a player who studies a lot. Suarez and chemistry seem to match well. I am recording 14 scoreless innings by matching the . I am looking forward to seeing if I can continue to play well in the future.”
“It’s always a good atmosphere and a good flow, so I think Lee Byung-hun and Suarez will have to work together in the next game. Also, when Suarez and Lee Byung-hun are sitting, they seem to have good ball coordination and breathing. Lee Byung-hun can’t shake his head much. I saw it. We talk a lot every inning. We are working well,” he explained.
Since last year, Samsung has consistently played a season with a three-man catcher system. Currently, the third catcher Kim Jae-seong (27) is missing due to an internal oblique muscle in his right side. Lee Byung-hun, who was evaluated as the 4th catcher, fills the gap well. 크크크벳
Lee Byung-hun wore a Samsung uniform with the 32nd overall pick in the 2nd 4th round of the 2019 KBO Rookie Draft. After completing his first year of debut, he also solved his military problems as a community service agent.
Now all he had to do was fly. There are outstanding seniors on the team, such as Kang Min-ho (38) and Kim Tae-goon (34), but Lee Byung-hun, who has good skills, can challenge enough.
Lee Byung-hun developed little by little and achieved a rise in status from the 4th catcher to a foreign pitcher-only catcher. If the current growth rate is maintained, there is a good chance that it will grow into a Samsung host in the next few years.