Lotte Giants began the first spring camp to prepare for the 2025 season at the Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium in Tainan, Taiwan, on the 25th. A total of 41 players, including 13 coaching staff, 20 pitchers, five catchers, nine infielders and seven outfielders, will sweat here until the 21st of next month.

It is the first time in six years that Lotte has set up a spring camp in Taiwan since 2019. Due to the poor facilities and environment of the Deedo Sports Complex in Guam, which had held the first camp for the past two years, it searched for a new camp site last year, leading to the signing of a business agreement with Tainan City.토토사이트

The interest of local baseball fans in Taiwan was also unexpectedly high. About 10 Taiwanese fans have been visiting the Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium wearing Lotte jerseys and jumpers since the first day of the camp.

Fans wearing sweatpants with Taegeukgi engraved on their tops and bottoms of the Korean national team, and those wearing Lotte Giants jumpers were all included. "I wonder where Yoon Dong-hee and Kim Won-joong bought them," Lotte's front office said in a surprise move. 

On Wednesday, the second day of the game, more people gathered for the weekend. More than 20 Taiwanese fans rushed to watch Lotte players practice. Age ranges from young to middle-aged. Some fans came to the baseball stadium as a family. The training site of Korean professional teams had a unique scene where there were few Korean fans and far more Taiwanese fans. 

The Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium opened in 2019 and boasts state-of-the-art facilities. However, it is located outside of downtown Tainan, so it is not accessible. There is also no public transportation route that can directly reach the stadium.

Taiwanese fans drove scooters and their own cars to visit the Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium from Sunday morning. They were not allowed inside the main stadium, but they could watch the players' training from behind the fence without spectators' seats. 

On top of that, the mini stadium, where conditioning and weight training are conducted, was truly a perfect place for fans to watch the players right in front of their eyes. Lotte players also faithfully provided fan services, including photos and autographs, before boarding the bus departing for their accommodation after the training.

What is surprising is that most Taiwanese fans were able to speak Korean enough to communicate simply. According to a local reporter in Taiwan, there are many young people learning Korean because Korean dramas are so popular in Taiwan.

Lotte Giants closer Kim Won-joong was also a big fan in Taiwan. He brought a Lotte uniform with Kim Won-joong's name and uniform number marked on it, and couldn't hide his happy expression after receiving his autograph.

It is not known whether he copied Kim Won-joong's hairstyle, which maintained long hair until last year, or was wearing a wig, but he also saw his hair fall over his shoulder. He also shouted "I support Kim Won-joong" in simple Korean. 

Taiwanese fans' interest in Lotte is expected to rise further. Lotte will play two practice matches against the Taiwan World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team at the Taipei Dome on Feb. 12-13. 

Taiwan is a country where baseball is the national 技. The victory of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 last year has sparked interest in the Taiwanese national baseball team.