Bears manager patiently waiting for slumping hitter's turnaround
Kang Seung-ho, baseball player at Doosan Bears, takes a swing against the Lotte Giants during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, April 26. Courtesy of Doosan Bears
Coming off the most productive offensive season of his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) career, Doosan Bears infielder Kang Seung-ho has found himself in an unfamiliar spot this season.
Before Wednesday's game against the KT Wiz, Kang was batting .208 with only one home run and eight RBIs in 28 games — after setting career highs with 18 homers and 81 RBIs in 140 games last year. Kang has never hit that poorly in any full season.
Kang had 59 extra-base hits to tie for ninth in the KBO in 2024, but only has nine this season.
And for the first time this season, Kang will bat ninth Wednesday. The last game in which he batted ninth in a starting lineup was September 2023.
"At this rate, he will have to bat 10th," Bears manager Lee Seung-yuop quipped. "Look, this is my third season with Seung-ho, and he's been great for us the past two seasons. I can only imagine how frustrated he must be right now. We had high expectations for him this year, and I am sure he did for himself, too."
The Bears are still top five in team batting average, runs, and on-base plus slugging —meaning a bounceback by Kang could push them even higher.
Lee insisted Kang's slump has not been for any lack of effort, noting that Kang had a well-hit ball go for an out in Tuesday's game.
"If that had been a hit, it would have given him a fresh start," the manager said. "All it takes is one hit and he can turn it around. He needs to be producing for us. That's why we keep putting him in the lineup. So let's see how he handles it. I am willing to give him more time."
After going 0-for-3 Tuesday, Kang is hitless in his past 10 at-bats. He batted .323 in eight games in March but is hitting .160 in 20 games this month.