Lotte Giants manager bets on rookie's growth with extended lineup run

Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyoung is keeping 21-year-old rookie outfielder Kim Dong-hyun in the starting lineup through an 0-for-6 stretch, calling the exposure to elite KBO pitchers an essential step in the young player's development.

The Giants, who rank below league average in most major offensive categories, are counting on the sixth-round 2024 draft pick to develop into a lineup cornerstone. His minor-league numbers this season — .308/.469/.533 with four home runs in 36 games — have drawn comparisons to Chicago White Sox outfielder Munetaka Murakami.

Kim Dong-hyun made his KBO debut on April 19, going hitless in two at-bats before being optioned back to the Futures League the following day. He returned in late May with a double, a triple and two RBIs, only to go 0-for-6 with a strikeout over his next two appearances, according to The Korea Times.

Kim Tae-hyoung said the adversity is precisely what he had in mind. "Back then (when he was in the Futures League), he didn't have to handle tough pitching. Now, I want him to see how he stacks up against these KBO pitchers," the manager said.

Despite the rough patch, Kim Tae-hyoung expressed measured confidence in the rookie's mechanics. "I think his timing wasn't that bad. Earlier in the season, he used to start his swing before the pitch even got near him," the manager said with a smile. He has pledged to give Kim Dong-hyun at least five games at the KBO level.

The 2024 sixth-round pick posted a .305/.415/.510 slash line with 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 75 Futures League games in 2025. Across two minor-league campaigns he has drawn 84 walks against 80 strikeouts — a disciplined approach that has fueled comparisons to White Sox slugger Murakami, who leads the American League with 19 home runs, The Korea Times reported.

In the coming games, Kim is scheduled to face Samsung Lions starter Yang Chang-seop, LG Twins pitcher Anders Tolhurst and former major leaguer Yonny Chirinos — a demanding stretch that his manager views as essential. "This is exactly why I kept him in the lineup," Kim Tae-hyoung said.

With the Giants needing offense and Kim Dong-hyun needing seasoning, Kim Tae-hyoung's calculated gamble may serve both goals — if the 21-year-old can find his footing against a demanding stretch of KBO pitching.