“Hyun Soo-hyung, you’re amazing,” says Chae Eun-sung of the 9 billion free agent effect that created ‘Home Run No. 1’

“I’m doing well because of senior Chae Eun-sung.”

If there’s one senior on the team that Noh Si-hwan (23-Hanwha), the “No. 1 home run hitter (28)” who has quickly become an MVP candidate this season, doesn’t mention, it’s Chae Eun-sung (33). Chae Eun-sung, who signed a six-year, up to 9 billion won free agent contract with Hanwha after last season, has been Noh’s mentor since spring training.

Noh, who didn’t have a solid routine of his own until last year, became Chae’s weight training partner and has been copying her routine ever since. During the season, he continued to lift weights every other day. As the weather heats up, he reduces his weight training to once every three days to stay flexible. “I don’t get tired physically because I follow Eunsung’s routine. It feels strange not to lift weights now. I’m getting a lot of help from her.”

To keep his routine with Chae Eun-sung, Noh arrives at the baseball field earlier than anyone else at home in Daejeon. Even on the road, he hits the weight room in the hotel as soon as he wakes up from the previous night’s game, rubbing his sleepy eyes. This is the effect of Chae Eun-sung’s free agency. Hanwha officials said, “Chae Eun-sung is doing a great job as a leader of the outfield. The younger players can’t help but follow her because she is so sincere and good at baseball.” She is known for her good-natured personality, but sometimes she says things she doesn’t like and acts as a leader to stabilize the team’s atmosphere.

Hanwha’s big-money free-agent acquisition of Chae Eun-sung was primarily aimed at strengthening the batting lineup, but the team was also hoping for a dugout leader. During the rebuilding process, the team had a lot of inexperienced young players, so there was no center of gravity. We needed a player who could set an example while playing baseball well, and that was Chae Eun-sung.

Against KT in Daejeon on April 18, Chae hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to lead Hanwha to an 11-6 victory. She added an RBI single in the eighth inning to finish 2-for-4. Through 95 games this season, Chae is batting .258 (105-for-371) with 15 home runs, 61 RBIs and an OPS of .811, leading the Hanwha batting order alongside Noh Si-hwan.

After the game, Chae Eun-sung said, “I had a hamstring injury recently, and I wasn’t feeling good at the plate, but the coaches helped me a lot. It’s a process of finding my batting balance little by little.” “We’re heading into the second half of the season, and the time is passing faster than I thought. I think (the leadership role) is really difficult. It’s not easy to lead the younger guys when you’re doing your own thing and you’re playing good baseball. I thought it would be hard, but I’m realizing it’s even harder.” 토토사이트

Chae Eun-sung then recalled Kim Hyun-soo, a senior who guided her during her time at LG, saying, “When I was at LG, I played fall baseball and had a lot of experiences that broadened my view of baseball, but now that I’m at Hanwha, I’m having new experiences. I think the seniors who have played a leadership role so far are amazing, especially Hyun Soo-hyung. I learned a lot about taking care of the juniors from him,” he said. LG’s 2018 free agent signing Kim Hyun-soo set the tone for the team’s rise to power by leading the juniors and creating a culture of weight training. One of his weight room members was Chae Eun-sung. Now, Chae Eun-sung is passing on that culture to Hanwha’s younger players, including Noh Si-hwan.

As a team leader, Chae Eun-sung doesn’t forget about the second team as well as the first team. She recently sent coffee tea to Seosan, where the Futures team is based. “I was going to send it during the break (to commemorate the All-Star Game MVP), but the timing wasn’t right, so it was a little late,” she said. “I haven’t worked out with the juniors in the second team, but I know they’re all struggling. (Choi) Jae-hoon and (Lee) Sun-i also sent coffee tea once, so I sent it to cheer them up.” Chae Eun-sung, who started out as a developmental player, also knows the feelings of the second team players.

Regarding Noh, she said, “I didn’t do anything. He did it on his own. From last year’s final camp to the whole winter, he prepared well by thinking a lot about himself. He’s doing so well now because the coaches have been helping him from the sidelines. I was just there to help him,” he laughed, before adding, “There’s not much left of the season. I will focus on each day and try to win as much as possible.”