It was not Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes) who won the lead-off confrontation. Han Seok-hyeon (29, NC Dinos), a ‘transfer student’, 안전놀이터 made an impression on NC coach Kang In-kwon in the first practice of spring camp.
On the 17th (Korean time), in a practice game against the World Baseball Classic (WBC) baseball team held at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA, Han Seok-hyun started as the first batter and left fielder, recording 2 hits and 1 RBI in 5 at-bats. In the first at-bat of the day, Kim Gwang-hyeon (SSG Landers) got a right-handed hit, and in the third at-bat, with one out and first base in the 4th inning, he got a heavy hit from Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions).
Han Seok-hyun scored an RBI with a grounder on first base in the 5th inning, where he was behind 1-7. The pitcher is Pil Seung-jo of the national team, Jung Woo-young (LG Twins). Among the NC batters in the game, only two hitters, Do Tae-hun (2 hits in 5 at-bats) and Han Seok-hyun, made multi-hits. Although the team lost 2-8, it predicted an activity that exceeded expectations. Lee Jung-hoo, who started as the first hitter for the national team, only had no hits in two at-bats.
Han Seok-hyun exercised his right to become a free agent (FA) in the Futures League (2nd team) in November of last year and transferred to NC. His first-team performance is not very noticeable with a career 0.250 (8 hits in 32 at-bats). However, in his second group, his bones are thick. His career record is a batting average of 0.293 (384 hits in 1309 at-bats) in 441 games. In the 2020 season, he became the batting king (0.345) and the stealing king (29) in the Northern League in the 2nd group, and also played in 48 games in the 2nd group last year, recording a batting average of 0.338 (51 hits in 151 bats). After the declaration of FA for the 2nd group, at least three clubs sent love calls, and the final NC was chosen.
In an interview with this magazine during the spring camp, he said, “I seem to have motivation (while transferring),” and “I prepared earlier than I did before. I am in good shape now. I am confident in weeks and weeks,” he expressed his confidence.
And he showed his personality in the first practice game of the camp. After the game, Seok-Hyun Han said, “Because I raised the pace early, I tried to hit the ball aggressively rather than watch the ball. This is our first real game. We will prepare well until the opening.”