Song Sung-moon, aims for Career High
“I never drink soda.”
The Kiwoom Heroes defeated the Samsung Lions 10-3 in the Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League 2024 at the Gocheok Sky Dome on Monday. Kiwoom clinched the Winning Series early with two straight wins. Their season record is now 25 wins and 36 losses. The team maintained its 6-4 advantage over Samsung this season.
Song Sung-moon was the star of the game. Starting at third base in the No. 4 spot, Song went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored. Song, who took over the captain’s armband from Kim Hye-sung on April 4, has been on a good pace. At this rate, she could have a shot at a career-high.
Song’s bat exploded from the first at-bat. With runners on first and second after Lee Joo-hyung singled to center and Kim Hye-sung walked, Song stepped to the plate and pulled a 130-kilometer changeup from starter Connor Seabold over the right-field fence for a three-run homer. It was Song’s eighth home run of the season.
Song’s bat didn’t cool down in his second at-bat. With runners on second and third in the third inning, Song lined a 140-kilometer slider from Conner to right field. Ronnie Dawson, who was at third base, came home to score Song’s RBI. Song then stole third on a grounder in front of the pitcher by Ko Young-woo and came home on a sacrifice fly to right field by Won Sung-joon.
Song Sung-moon had another long hit in his third at-bat. With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Song hit a 130-kilometer changeup in the corner for a two-run double. After Lee Jae-sang singled and Won Sung-joon walked, Song stole third and scored on Lee Yong-kyu’s pushing single.
In his fourth at-bat, he added an RBI single. In the sixth inning, with runners on first and third after Lee Joo-hyung singled and Kim Hye-sung walked, Song hit a grounder to first base. Lee Joo-hyung, who was at third base, slipped and touched home plate to score.
Speaking to the media after the game, Song said, “We had a lot of fans over the weekend, and I’m glad we were able to get the win. In my first at-bat, Connor’s 스포츠토토 changeup was a wild pitch. I tried to hit it with the idea of making an in-play pitch, and it turned out to be a good result,” he said.
Song Sung-moon, who wore the captain’s armband, is batting at a high pace. “I don’t think my mindset has changed. I’m just happy that I performed well. Being the captain doesn’t change anything. There are a lot of young players on the team, so I’ve been trying to lead by example. Now that I’m the captain, I’m trying to do that more.”
Song has been doing intense weight training ahead of the season, which has resulted in a noticeable improvement in his long ball power. This, coupled with his efforts to increase his bat speed, has helped him excel. “Of course, weight training is one of the reasons for the improvement in my long ball,” says Song. Above all, I tried to increase my bat speed. I’ve been preparing for two to three years. This year, my batting speed is faster, so I think I’m hitting a lot of long shots,” he said, explaining why he’s been hitting more long shots.
Song Sung-moon has been batting fourth more often lately. Does he think about batting long? “I don’t think about long hits at all. When I’ve tried to hit 파워볼게임 long, the results have always been bad. We don’t have a lot of batters who can hit big home runs, so I think we have to keep connecting when we get the chance. I don’t try to go for the long ball just because I’m batting fourth, but I try to focus on scoring runs when the pitcher is in trouble. I feel like I’m hitting better pitches and hitting home runs when I’m focused on my role,” he said.
He’s also been working on his diet. He tries to avoid flour, fried foods, and soda as much as possible. “I don’t really drink soda. But I do eat flour sometimes. My wife and I eat chicken together. If I don’t eat it because I control it, she seems to notice. I feel like I’m being selfish, so we eat it together. When I eat chicken, I drink water or milk with it. I don’t drink soda,” he said, adding that he is very strict about his diet.
“When I’m doing well, I’m more disciplined. Only when he is extremely stressed does he reward himself with chicken and soda. “I never eat chicken on a good day. I always eat a clean diet. I used to love fried food. I used to eat fries when I had a burger, but not anymore. I eat them when I’m stressed and frustrated or when I need a pick-me-up,” he laughs.