Set to premiere in September, JTBC's baseball entertainment program 'A Clean Sweep' is a reality sports show where retired professional baseball players form a team to take on the challenge of baseball once again. After parting ways with StudioC1, the production company that had been producing 'A Clean Sweep', JTBC has introduced a new season with a fresh lineup including director Lee Jong-beom, and players Kim Tae-kyun, Yoon Seok-min, Na Ji-wan, and Lee Dae-hyung, drawing significant attention.
According to the production team, during the first team meeting held before the official training, Director Lee Jong-beom said, "Let's prepare and perform well, fitting of the 'A Clean Sweep' team, and see it through to the end. Before being a director, I'll prepare well and communicate as a senior. I'll dedicate and work hard for you all, so please trust and follow me."
Director Lee Jong-beom's leadership shone from the first training session. Taking up the fungo bat himself, he provided one-on-one lessons to each player, demonstrating his leadership skills. Notably, under his guidance, Lee Hak-ju made a strong impression by hitting balls over the fence one after another.
Not to be outdone, 'Eternal Cleanup Hitter' Kim Tae-kyun also showcased his enduring power as a hitter by hitting consecutive home runs, while 'Super Sonic' Lee Dae-hyung demonstrated his deep understanding of baseball with a new batting stance, making contact with the pitches one after another.
Moreover, Heo Do-hwan hit a home run that struck the pole, showcasing a batting strength that seemed even stronger than during his active days, raising expectations for 'A Clean Sweep's legendary batting lineup. Witnessing this, Na Ji-wan expressed his determination to hit well, saying, "Now it's just my turn."
After observing the players' defensive training, Coach Jang Sung-ho commented, "The veteran infielders' defense is better than I expected," expressing his satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the pitchers also made a notable impact. Yoon Seok-min, holding a baseball after a long time, said, "This is the ground I've missed," adding, "It's fun to exercise together after such a long time." Yoon Hee-sang impressed everyone with his live pitching, showcasing a ball movement not unlike his active days.
Yoon Gil-hyun, considered a promising player within the team, recorded a top speed of 142 km/h during the training, heating up the atmosphere even further. Playing coach Shim Soo-chang also participated in half-pitching, intensifying the competition among the pitchers. Amidst the strong lineup of pitchers, anticipation is high for who will be the starting pitcher in 'A Clean Sweep's first game.
Even after all the training was over, veteran Kim Tae-kyun voluntarily suggested an additional 30 minutes of practice, showing that not even the scorching heat could dampen the team's fiery spirit. The production team noted, "The players are sweating it out daily in training to live up to the name 'Ultimate', and the heated challenge of 'A Clean Sweep' can be seen on JTBC this coming September."
[Photo provided by JTBC]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)