Won Tae-in, the ace of blue blood, is scheduled to return in mid-April → Park Jin-man, "Weather and build-up situation are variables."

*This content was translated by AI.

The outline of the schedule for Won Tae-in (26), the "blue blood ace" of the Samsung Lions, to return to the first team has been revealed to some extent. How to fill his vacancy after leaving due to an elbow injury is expected to be the biggest task for Samsung's mound early in the season.

Samsung manager Park Jin-man hinted at the specific timing of his return, leaving an answer, "I think I can join at least mid-April," when asked about the timing of Won Tae-in's return ahead of the opening game against the Lotte Giants of the "2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 28th.

Won Tae-in, who was not registered in the opening round entry with the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team due to pain in his elbow flexor muscle, started catching in early March and is currently undergoing a step-by-step pitching program (ITP). Coach Park Jin-man said, "I'm considering whether to put him in after about two turns of the starting rotation or whether to put him in the mound in three turns," adding, "Now, we have to watch the situation further because we have to gradually build up our physical condition."

The key variable for the timing of Won Tae-in's return is temperature. Coach Park said, "I think there will be some influence from the weather. If the weather is warm, even one turn can come quickly, but if not, one turn can be delayed," he said, making it clear that he would not rush to prevent the recurrence of the ace.

Without Won Tae-in, the starters will endure through "volume offensive" and "anomalous operation." Starting with Choi Won-tae on the 29th, Samsung plans to have foreign left-handers Jack O'Rourlin, right-hander Yang Chang-seop and left-hander Lee Seung-hyun take the mound in order in three consecutive games during the week against the Doosan Bears. In particular, the 3rd and 5th starters set a strategy to disrupt the opponent's lineup by alternately putting left and right pitchers.

On top of that, O'Rourkelyn, a "six-week short-term replacement player" who joined in a hurry due to the injury of foreign pitcher Matt Manning, is particularly important. Although he joined the team in a hurry, he did not win in two exhibition games, but he was not bad with one loss and an ERA of 1.69. He played in five ⅓ innings in two games, but he was good enough to score one earned run. There were only two walks, and he struck out as many as seven.

Manager Park Jin-man said of O'Rourkelyn, "He has been a starter in the minor leagues until last season. He also started for the Australian national team. "In this situation, we came to our team and we are increasing the number of pitches by managing it, so I don't think there is anything to worry about about step-ups or that," he added.

Regarding the bullpen, coach Park Jin-man also said, "We plan to operate the must-win group by utilizing a wide range of players in good condition, including Bae Chan-seung, Lee Seung-min, Choi Ji-kwang, and Miyaji Yura. However, Kim Tae-hoon, who is slightly out of condition, said, "We are continuing to observe until he comes up," hinting that he will make all-out efforts to "stand" until "Ace" Won Tae-in returns.

In the end, it is no exaggeration to say that Samsung's success or failure at the beginning of the season depends on the stability of the starting rotation, which has to be endured with a "gum," and the newly reorganized bullpen. Attention is also focusing on whether Samsung's "anomalous rotation" and "young blood" must-win cards will be effective amid the crisis of the ace's absence.

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*This content was translated by AI.