The Jae-il Oh, 37, we knew is back.
토토사이트Samsung Lions first baseman Oh Jae-il had a rough 2023 season. He was in the midst of a terrible hitting slump and couldn’t generate much power at the plate. In 82 games this season, he’s batting .194 with 51 hits, nine home runs, 42 RBIs, and 24 runs scored. These are rather disappointing numbers considering his name value.
Add to that the league’s third-most strikeouts (96) and a hamstring injury, and there have been more moments of hanging his head than smiling. He hasn’t reached double digits in batting average since May 4 against the Daegu Kiwoom Heroes.
Samsung’s Oh Jae-il. Photo courtesy of the Samsung Lions
Samsung’s Oh Jae-il. Photo courtesy of the Samsung Lions
Oh, who has played for Samsung since the 2021 season, led Samsung’s fall baseball team that year with a .285 average of 119 with 25 home runs, 97 RBIs and 64 runs scored in 120 games, and he followed that up last season with a .268 average of 126 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 57 runs scored in 135 games. With Oh’s slump, Samsung manager Park Jin-man and Samsung fans were understandably disappointed.
On the 26th and 27th, Oh saved the day for Samsung. He entertained Samsung fans with his hot hitting.
First, on the 26th, against Kiwoom at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. After being left out of the starting lineup, Oh came up to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, trailing 2-5. Oh took two pitches from Lee Myung-jong’s 120-kilometer slider and turned it into a grand slam over the right-center field fence. Not only did the fans in attendance rejoice, but so did the Samsung bench. The home run helped Samsung avenge the previous day’s loss to Kiwoom.
On the 27th, Rafa came out to bat. From his first at-bat, Rafa hit a cool long ball. He followed a similar course to his home run the day before with a double. He also hit a single to right in the third and fifth innings. On the day, Oh went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, and one run scored. In the ninth inning, he made a flying catch of Ronnie Dawson’s fastball to end the rally. Samsung held on for an 8-6 victory and their third straight sweep of the series. It had been 78 days since Oh had a game with three or more hits since June 10 against the Daegu Lotte Giants (5-for-4, two home runs, three RBIs, two runs scored).
Samsung’s Oh Jae-il. Photo courtesy of the Samsung Lions
He’s not quite there yet, but he’s within striking distance of a double-digit batting average. With a .286 average in his last 10 games, it’s safe to say he’s on his best pace of the season.
Samsung has climbed from the bottom of the standings in the second half to eighth place. They are now two and a half games behind the seventh-place Lotte Giants. At this rate, it’s not an impossible catch-up.
With Oh Jae-il back to his old self, albeit a little late, Samsung hopes to continue their second-half cruise.
Samsung’s Oh Jae-il. Photo courtesy of Samsung Lions