He looks, acts, and plays just like his father. “I always wanted to copy my dad’s tricks,” laughs Jin Seung-hyun, 20, a second-year pitcher for the Lotte Giants. His father is Kia Tigers head coach Jin Gap-yong, a former national team catcher.

Jin came on as the second pitcher in the eighth inning with a 5-1 lead after starter Na Kyun-ahn, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Samsung Lions at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Sept. 9. Lotte had been struggling to find a closer after Koo Seung-min and Kim Won-joong pitched three straight games against the Sasik KT Wiz from June 6-8. Jin Seung-hyun pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit ball (23 pitches) into the ninth to help Lotte snap a four-game losing streak.
After closing out the game, Jin stretched his thumb and index finger in the air with catcher Yoo Kang-nam. It was an imitation of his father’s victory ceremony, which he performed in synchronized fashion with “endgame captain” Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung). The duo’s signature move was a Samsung trademark.

When Jin Seung-hyun finished the game with his own hands, he was reminded of his father’s signature move. With a smile on his face and no hint of nervousness, Jin Seung-hyun asked Yoo Kang-nam, “Senior, why don’t you do your father’s serenade 먹튀검증 with me?” This is a glimpse of his father’s strength and boldness. Yoo Kang-nam smiled broadly and agreed to do the ceremony. “I’ve seen my dad’s tricks since I was a kid, so I wanted to imitate them,” Jin Seung-hyun said.

“He said, ‘You’re good at this,'” Jin laughed, mimicking his father’s tone of voice.

Born and raised in Daegu under the influence of his father, who played for Samsung for many years, Jin Seung-hyun naturally started playing baseball. He went on to play for Bonnicho, Gyeongsunggyeongbokjung, and Gyeongbuk High School, where he distinguished himself by throwing fastballs in the low 140 kilometers per hour.

Often told that he looks like his father, Jin Seung-hyun inherited his personality and baseball skills. Seung-hyun Jin was selected with the 14th pick in the second round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft.

Recently, he threw hard in front of his father in the opposite dugout. On April 4, he pitched one inning of two-hit ball against the KIA. “I talk to my dad about once a day,” Jin said. He rarely calls me on the days I pitch,” he said. “He doesn’t say anything bitter about me. He says, ‘You did a good job’ like a Busan man.” On March 27 against the Kiwoom Heroes, Jin gave up three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one. After the game, Jin said, “My dad told me, ‘Don’t dodge, play more confidently,'” he said.

After a rough rookie year with a 9.00 ERA in 10 games in the first team last year, Jin has been more stable this season, posting a 3.68 ERA in six games through 10 days. His walks per nine innings have dropped from 7.00 last year to 1.23 this season.

“Seung-hyun Jin is showing improvement with every start,” Sutton said. His confidence is growing,” Sutton said. “I want to stay healthy and continue to play in the first team,” said Seung-hyun Jin.