"Lee Young-ha has to make a selection, but..." Director Kim Won-hyung's Expectations and Worries

*This content was translated by AI.

"Lee Young-ha (29, Doosan Bears) should play the starting role."

Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung (54) had clear expectations. However, it is still 'thinking'. This is because they have not reached a conclusion on the 4th to 5th starting positions in the team.

Lee Young-ha was once a starting pitcher representing the Bears. At the age of 22, he won 17 games (including two relief wins) in 2019, showing off his infinite potential. However, since the following year, they have only won five to five to six games, respectively, and then switched to the bullpen in 2023.

Until last year, he took the mound only for 167 games in relief except for one game (one run in three ⅓ innings against LG on April 13, 2024). He played 73 games last year, recording 4 wins, 4 losses and 14 holds.

Coach Kim Won-hyung, who took office in October last year, selected Lee Young-ha as a starting resource. There are three main reasons.

Coach Kim said ahead of the exhibition game against KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 23rd, "First of all, Lee Young-ha was the starting pitcher."

"As with all teams, foreigners are highly dependent on the starting lineup, and if the starting pitcher collapses, the overall performance of the team is often not coming out. That's why I thought I had to create selection resources unconditionally," he explained.

The Asian quarter, which was introduced this season, also had an impact. Manager Kim said, "Although the weakening of the bullpen that Lee Young-ha was in charge of was considered, Lee Young-ha should play the starting role because Asian quarter Tamura (32) can join and take over the must-win group with several players."

However, Lee Young-ha's return to the starting lineup has not been confirmed. This is because the exhibition game was not very satisfactory.

Lee Young-ha made his first start against Samsung on the 14th and allowed six hits, three walks and five runs (64 pitches) in three innings. In the match against Lotte on the 20th, he threw 67 pitches and allowed two hits and one run in four innings, but four walks were disappointing. In particular, after giving up three consecutive walks in the second inning from the lead Yoo Kang-nam to Kim Min-sung and Lee Ho-joon, Jang Doo-sung gave up one run.

Doosan has confirmed up to three starters, including Flexen, Zachlog and Kwak Bin, but the next pitchers have not been decided. Along with Lee Young-ha, Choi Seung-yong (25) and Choi Min-seok (20) are competing. When asked about the remaining concerns until the opening of the regular season (28th), head coach Kim replied, "The fielders are generally in good physical condition and pace, but the performance of the 4th and 5th starting candidates is still a little back and forth."

Lee Young-ha signed a free agent (FA) contract with Doosan for up to 5.2 billion won for four years ahead of this season. Amid the expectations and concerns of the head coach, attention is being paid to whether he will be able to restore the honor of his past 17 wins as a starting pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.