Lotte Faces Urgent Offseason as Postseason Picture Clears
BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA – Lotte Giants fans are grappling with disappointment as their team missed the postseason for the second consecutive year, despite the arrival of veteran Kim tae-hyung, who previously led the Doosan Bears to seven straight korean Series appearances and three championships earning him the moniker “Winner.” The Giants’ exclusion from the fall baseball tournament underscores an urgent need to bolster their offensive firepower heading into the offseason.
The failure to reach the postseason comes as other teams solidify their playoff positions. LG Twins,Hanwha Eagles,and SSG Landers have secured berths in the fifth round,while Samsung is on the verge of clinching a spot,holding a magic number of one over the Kiwoom Heroes. The competition for the remaining playoff slots remains tight between KT Wiz and NC Dinos, with KT holding a 1.5 game lead with only four regular season games remaining for each team.
Lotte’s offensive struggles were especially glaring this season, finishing with the lowest home run total in the KBO at 75 – significantly trailing Doosan’s 101. While the return of Han Dong-hee from military service offers some hope, the team is actively exploring options to strengthen their hitting, including participation in the free agent market and evaluating potential replacements for their foreign batters. Victor Rayes posted a solid batting average of .329, but managed only 13 home runs.
Elsewhere, the KIA Tigers, last year’s integrated champions, were eliminated from postseason contention, falling short of expectations this season. The postseason is set to begin as the regular season nears its conclusion, with the final playoff picture taking shape.
