Kim Joo-won, Davidson, and Kim Hyung-joon of the "finally full group" are starting, and the head coach is "concerned about deploying batting order." [the site of a water source]

*This content was translated by AI.

The NC Dinos have finally become the whole body. Although it is an exhibition game, the rapid growth of new-class players is making coach Lee Ho-joon (50) happy. The problem is the batting lineup.

Manager Lee Ho-joon told Star News ahead of the 2026 KBO exhibition game against KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 21st, "I'm worried about the deployment of batting order. "I'm going to experiment with (Park) Min-woo as No. 2, and the back may be a little loose when I put it on with (Park) Kun-woo, but the main players are back, so I'm going to test the batting order I thought about for the remaining four days and finally play the opening game," he said.

NC has formed a lineup of Kim Joo-won (striker), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Park Gun-woo (designated hitter), Matt Davison (first baseman), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Lee Woo-sung (right fielder), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), and Choi Jung-won (center fielder). The starting pitcher is Riley Thompson.

The most welcome news is that the players who participated in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) will return and play as a whole for the first time. Kim Hyung-joon, who had his first grand slam the day before, and Davison, who played for the Canadian national team, have already played once each, but even Kim Joo-won joined.

Director Lee said, "I didn't talk much after I came back. I just said that I worked hard. It must have been a good experience because it was the first national team and went to such a big tournament. He had a bright expression, he said. "I'll hit one or two at-bats and it'll be the same tomorrow. "I will play full season in the match against Hanwha," he explained.

Kim Hyung-joon did not have a chance to play in the WBC, but he hit a home run the day before to shake off concerns about his absence in the actual game. Director Lee said, "It's a relief. As for the part where he had little time to work with foreign players, he said, "I have a day to work with Taylor in the trial game, so we can match it."

Won Jong-hae, Jung Koo-beom, and Lee Joon-hyuk have shown rapid growth, and the bullpen has more cards to use, but the batters are worried.

Coach Lee said, "Gun-woo has a little bad knee, so he goes in as a designated hitter, but if he goes out of defense, one of the three (Seo) Ho-cheol, (Lee) Woosung, and (Kwon) Hee-dong can't play," adding, "We have to think about who is better behind us, and we can say that those three are competing for the main player now. That's why it's an exhibition game, but you have to show good performance. I will use the player who is in the best condition," he stressed.

KT will face Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Choi Won-joon (center fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder), Jang Sung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Sang-soo (second baseman), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (striker). Soh Hyung-joon will be the starting pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.