Even the first starter of 'LG's second consecutive challenge will disappear "I'm going to have a checkup due to back pain" [the scene of Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

The LG Twins, who are trying to win their second consecutive championship title, are on high alert. Even Yoni Chirinos (32), who started the previous day (28th), showed signs of injury, making it difficult to manage the starting team in the early stages.

Ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season KT Wiz at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 29th, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, "Chirinos say his right back is not good. He said he's fine today, but he's in pain, so I'm going to have a detailed examination tomorrow.

Chirinos is a foreign ace who joined LG last year and contributed to the combined championship with 13 wins, 6 losses and a 3.31 ERA in 30 games. He was selected as the first starter again this year and played in the opening game the day before.

However, it was very different from what I've seen so far. Sharpness disappeared on the ball, including the main weapon, the two-seam fastball. As a result, he had seven consecutive hits from the second out and was substituted with six hits, one walk, and six runs without striking out in one inning. LG lost 7-11 to KT as it failed to overcome the score early on.

Sohn Joo-young, the fourth starter, has already left due to injury, and Song Seung-ki, the fifth starter, is in an emergency situation, not 100% condition. Son Joo-young and Song Seung-ki, who have been to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), had difficulty preparing for the season due to their few appearances. In particular, Son Joo-young is expected to be difficult to see at least a month after he was found to have fine damage to his right internal oblique muscle after pitching in the exhibition game on March 24.

Fortunately, the firepower is still there. Despite losing 3-11, he drove in a total of 12 hits, eventually pulling out the opponent's must-win group and closing pitcher Park Young-hyun and chasing him to the bottom of his chin. As a result, Park Young-hyun had to make a save in the first ⅔ of 34 pitches from the first game. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, "Will (Park) Young-hyun throw it today. It was my first game, and I was surprised to see it posted from there."

While the bullpen also showed poor condition, it became important for LG to endure April. On the same day, LG formed the same lineup as the previous day with Hong Chang-ki (right wing), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Park Dong-won (captor), Moon Sung-joo (left wing), Oh Ji-hwan (striker), Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), and Park Hae-min (middle fielder). The starting pitcher is Lim Chan-kyu.

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*This content was translated by AI.