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[Sports Seoul | Reporter Kang Yoon-sik] Lotte entered 2025 battling a clear power deficit, and Han Dong-hee, 27, was expected to provide the boost. Instead, Han has stalled: no home runs and limited production with runners in scoring position. As Han struggles, Lotte’s offense has hit a rough patch.
The momentum from spring training and the opening series has evaporated. Losses now outnumber wins, and Lotte has slipped to the bottom of the standings. Of the KBO’s 10 clubs, Lotte is the only team with fewer than 10 victories so far.
The lineup simply hasn’t fired. Lotte’s team batting average sits at .241, ninth in the league, and their batting average with runners in scoring position is an anemic .199 — dead last. The starting rotation has been a bright spot, posting a league-best 3.45 ERA, but pitching can’t win games alone when the offense is this dormant.
Most concerning is Han’s slump. He’s hitting .256 with four RBIs, five runs scored and a .609 OPS. He opened the season well, piling up multi-hit games and carrying an average near .300 that helped energize Lotte’s attack. But his production tapered off in mid-April.
The fact that he has only four RBIs underscores his quietness in clutch moments. With any runner on base his average drops to .171, and his RISP average is only .190. Han has been slotted in the heart of the order all season, but his inability to deliver with runners in scoring position has stalled the lineup’s momentum.
Power production is another disappointment. Branded as a potential “post–Lee Dae-ho” or the “Little Big Boy,” Han was expected to be Lotte’s power threat. Instead his slugging percentage is just .308 and he has yet to hit his first homer. Hard, elevated contact has been scarce.
Last season Lotte hit .267 — third-best in the league — yet their team slugging was a paltry .372, third from the bottom. With Han returning from military duty, the club hoped he would address that shortfall. So far, neither the team nor Han have delivered the desired results.
At the end of last year Han said, “After I finish my service, I’ll make the manager happy,” adding, “If I play well, I’ll definitely be a plus for the team.” He came into the season with that mindset, but things haven’t gone his way. A quick rebound from Han is urgent if Lotte’s offense is to recover. skywalker@sportsseoul.com
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