Lotte Giants dream of fall baseball for the first time in 6 years since 2017. That dream may come true if it is with Yoo Kang-nam (31), the ‘8 billion catcher’.
Yoo Kang-nam returned home through Incheon International Airport on the 7th after finishing the spring camp in Okinawa, Japan, and conveyed his feelings about changing the team and preparing for the season. Yoo Kang-nam, who joined the pro in the 2011 LG 7th round 50th, left his beloved LG in November last year and signed a free agent contract with Lotte for a total of 8 billion won over 4 years.
Yoo Kang-nam said, “I prepared the same as usual. He thought that the camps were all similar no matter which team he joined. “Of course, the team culture may be a little different, but the process of preparing for the season was similar. I tried to prepare as well as possible in it.”
Regarding adapting to the team, “After a while, I got used to it quickly. It was fun getting to know the new players. I talked to players I didn’t know well and ate a lot.”
As the team moved, this camp spent a lot of time learning the characteristics of Lotte pitchers as catchers. Yoo Kang-nam said, “I thought of the Lotte pitching staff first. Even on days when the pitcher isn’t playing, he checks a lot of things behind the scenes. I personally thought a lot about what kind of pitches this pitcher throws well and what kinds of pitches he uses to run the game.”
As a result, it was confirmed that Lotte has as many pitchers with a bright future as LG. Yoo Kang-nam said, “When I received the ball, there were so many potential friends. I also liked the balls of players I didn’t know well,” he said. I think we just need to understand the players’ tendencies a little.”
Yoo Kang-nam, whose stealing rate was only 17.3% last year, focused on throwing to second base with battery coach Choi Gyeong-cheol in Guam and Okinawa. He said, “I trained in the direction the coach pursued within short motions so that I could throw strong to second base. Originally, I fell backwards, but I moved the momentum toward second base,” he said.
Kang-Nam Yoo, who improved his throwing ability to second base, naturally became greedy to catch his former colleague Oh Ji-Hwan at second base. Oh Ji-hwan declared war at the spring camp, saying, “If I succeed in stealing second base against Yoo Kang-nam, I will hold a ceremony for the home field.” 더블유 토토
Yoo Kang-nam said, “(Oh) Ji-hwan hyung said he was holding a ceremony, but I will try to catch it as much as possible. Aside from betting, this is a matter of pride. If I can’t catch it, I’ll be embarrassed because I’ll be ridiculed for the rest of my life.”
Along with Oh Ji-hwan, Yoo Kang-nam also met his parents LG and expressed his intention to do his best more than any other game. He said, “I plan to work harder on framing in the LG match. The closer you get, the more you have to do,” he said with a laugh. I’d rather focus on helping the team win. Also, I think something will come out of my mind.”
My goal at Lotte is to advance to fall baseball. As much as I received a huge amount of 8 billion won, I want to play a big role in helping the team to step on the fall stage for the first time in six years since 2017.
Yoo Kang-nam said, “I told you to have big goals and dreams. If we have a big goal of winning, I think Lotte can get into the top 5. The players are also preparing for the season with such bold thoughts,” he said. The same players start on the same line. It is the most important thing not to collapse in it,” he said with a spleen determination.