“I just want to say thank you to my interpreter.”

Good players are surrounded by good people. Such is the case for LG’s foreign-born hitter Austin Dean. To help him adjust to the unfamiliar Korean scene, he analyzed pitches, which he did with the help of his interpreter. Austin, who has become the best foreign hitter this season, shared the secret to his success and thanked Ji Seung-jae.

On the 24th, 바카라사이트 Austin batted fourth and played first base against Jamsil Lotte, going 1-for-2 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and two walks. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, he hit a fastball from opposing pitcher Charlie Barnes for a two-run double to break a 0-0 tie. It proved to be the game-winning hit for LG, and afterward, Austin calmly faced the pitchers and reached base in three consecutive at-bats with two strikeouts.

First-place LG won the pitchers’ duel 3-1 against Lotte and moved 7.5 games clear of second-place KT. Here’s what Austin, who is batting .316 with 16 home runs, 75 RBIs and an OPS of .880, had to say to the media.

-I talked a couple weeks ago about how it’s been tough physically, starting every game for the first time in a long time this season. But I’ve been hitting really well lately.

When I look back at my time in the U.S., I had seasons where I played full-time in the minors and years where I was a backup in the majors and didn’t play full-time. I looked back at my records in the minors and thought about what it was like to play full-time. This year, I’m playing baseball with a new team, a new environment, and I’m trying to win a championship, so I’m more focused and I think that’s why I’ve been getting good results lately.

-I heard that you study a lot about pitching. How do you do that?

First of all, I want to thank my interpreter, he helps me a lot. I asked my interpreter to pull data on the pitchers at the beginning of the season. I asked him for the location of each pitcher, the distribution of pitches, and so on. Then, as the season went on, I kept track of the pitchers as they faced me. My friend who translates for me organized it into a nice binder. Before every game, I look at it and go into the game. I’m really grateful to my interpreter right now.

LG’s Austin Dean hits an RBI single against Lotte in Jamsil on April 24. Photo | LG Twins

-If you look at today’s game and a lot of recent games, you see a lot of pitchers trying to get out of trouble. Even today, after I hit a single, the pitchers didn’t give me any trouble and I drew two walks. Can you attribute your patience to studying the pitchers?

The analysis isn’t always right. But it’s a good reference. With my recent results, I think my opponents recognize me as a hitter to watch out for. I can see them avoiding me by not giving me good pitches to hit, but the more I do that, the more I try to stay focused and not miss the ones I can hit. It felt good to get a hit in a key situation today and then I walked, but that’s okay because it helps the team and I know the guys behind me can handle it.

-You’ve been batting over .500 for the past week. I feel like this is the best time to be hitting.

I feel like God is on my side right now. Every night before I go to bed, I pray for everything to go well for me and my team, and I feel like he keeps giving me energy.

LG’s Austin celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Jamsil Lotte on April 24. Photo | LG Twins

-You’re practically guaranteed a spot in the postseason. What was your previous postseason experience like in the United States?

I’ve been to the postseason a few times, but I only played in the postseason one year in the majors. I was a backup player at the time, so I didn’t feel the heat as the games were played without spectators due to COVID-19. I’m looking forward to the postseason in Korea. It will be the hottest postseason I’ve ever played in. I want to win every day to have a good postseason.

-Do you know about the KBO League Golden Glove? You are currently in the running to win the Golden Glove for first base. I could be the first LG first baseman to win the Golden Glove since 1994.

It’s a great award and I think it would be really cool to win. But the Golden Glove is not my first goal. We have bigger goals and dreams. I want to accomplish those first, and the Golden Glove is something that happens after that.

LG fourth baseman Austin celebrates after hitting a two-run home run to left field off McKinney in the fifth inning of the 2023 baseball game between the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Stadium on Aug. 12. 2023.08.12.Kang Young-jo kanjo@sportsseoul.com

-1As a first baseman, I’m constantly talking to opposing hitters. Now that it’s late in the season, I’m sure there are some hitters you’ve gotten to know very well. The conversations must have changed a bit.

Yes, it has. I’ve faced a lot of hitters, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of guys that I like and am happy to see. One of the hitters I like the most is Hanwha’s Noh Si-hwan. He’s a very attractive player, both offensively and defensively, and I’ve gotten to know him well since I’ve been seeing him at first base. Next is Chae Eun-sung, who was with LG until last year. She is also a friend who takes good care of me. I think the biggest trigger was the All-Star Game. I met a lot of players at the All-Star Game and we got closer.