“What do you think? Do you feel better?”
NC Dinos Young-hoon Cho (40), a batting coach for the C team (2nd team), spoke sweetly (?) and respectfully to a player. The player said, “I got it”. Leaders and players are no longer hierarchical, and it has become routine to see and run to the same place together.
One of the players who received respectful coaching from Coach Cho Young-hoon is right-handed hitter Yoon Hyung-jun (29), who is a ten-year big bat prospect. According to a video released by the NC Dinos’ official YouTube channel on May 5, the two had a lengthy conversation about batting stance, swing trajectory, and more during a final workout.
Coach Cho Young-hoon seemed to be mostly directing Yoon Hyung-joon, but Yoon Hyung-joon was not afraid to voice his opinions. In the final workout, Yoon listened to Coach Young-hoon’s advice and delivered a series of sharp shots in the betting cage.
NC YouTube released a small portion of their conversation. Coach Cho Young-hoon said, “The angle itself (batting set-up position) is too lying down. It seems like he’s making the shot by lying down too much, and then the position of the ball gets pushed back.”
He saw the need to adjust Yoon’s upper body movement. In fact, Yoon Hyung-joon hit with his upper body straightened and made a good hit. Coach Cho Young-hoon said, “How is it? It feels better.” Yoon Hyung-joon looked satisfied that he had gotten the hang of it.
Yoon graduated from Jinheung High School and was drafted in the fourth round, 31st overall, in 2013. After a brief stint with the LG Twins, he made a comeback in 2021. This season, he batted .252 with 55 hits in 218 at-bats, five home runs, 27 RBIs, 17 runs scored, and a .676 OPS in 82 games.
This season, NC hasn’t been able to find a mainstay at first base. They started with Oh Young-soo and ended with Oh Young-soo, but he didn’t have a satisfactory season. In the meantime, Yoon Hyung-joon got his chance, but he didn’t fulfill his potential. Also, neither of them had a very good defense at first base, and the opportunity was given to Do Tae-hoon, who had a stable defense.
One of NC’s key issues for the 2024 season is first base. The best option would be to get a foreigner to play first base, but if that doesn’t happen, it will be another competition between Oh and Yoon. From a natural rebuilding standpoint, Oh should ultimately own the position. But that’s no reason for Yoon to back down, and he 안전놀이터 shouldn’t. In a world where right-handed bats are scarce, it’s important for Yoon to be able to hit.
Did Yoon solve the mystery of hitting in this final workout, and how did Coach Cho Young-hoon’s sincere questions of respect reach him? He must carry this hard-won knowledge into next year’s spring camp in Tucson.
