You already found your partner, KIM DO YOUNG! KIA's new foreign coach, who has a '100% long hitting rate', also said, "If Castro comes out, the bench atmosphere will change."" [the scene of Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho (46) expressed satisfaction with new foreign hitter Harold Castro (33).

Ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 1st, manager Lee Bum-ho said, "Our batters are all led by Castro now. (Kim) I was most worried about who to put in front of Do-young, but I think I found my partner well," he said.

On this day, KIA's lineup was composed of Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Harold Castro (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-bum (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Yoon Do-hyun (first baseman), Gerid Dale (striker), Kim Tae-gun (fouler), and Park Min (second baseman). The starting pitcher is Yang Hyun-jong.

Against this, LG's lineup consisted of Hong Chang-ki (right wing), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Austin Dean (first baseman), Park Dong-won (captor), Moon Sung-joo (left wing), Oh Ji-hwan (striker), Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), Lee Jae-won (designated hitter), and Park Hae-min (middle fielder). The starting pitcher is Song Seung-ki.

Instead of starting pitchers from both teams being registered in the first division, Song Chan-ui from LG and Kim Ki-hoon from KIA were canceled.

Castro is a right-handed, left-handed outfielder who joined KIA this season. In the major leagues, he mainly played as a utility player who played both inside and outfield. He was a rare player in batting, but he caught KIA's attention last year with a batting average of 0.307 in 99 games and 21 home runs in Triple-A.

Head coach Lee Bum-ho said, "I don't know what changes happened last year. The change in the minor leagues seems to have resulted in a home run, but he doesn't seem to have much greed for a home run. First of all, I think I should not get struck out, so I think I'm a very good fit for Asian baseball," he said.

"It's a time to test a lot of young players during the trial game, and it's a time when a lot of players with poor control come out. I think it was a time to adapt to Korean pitchers, and I think the concentration has definitely changed as I played at night," he added.

Although there is no activity unique to South American players, his personality that melts calmly into the squad like Socrates Brito was also an advantage. Manager Lee Bum-ho said, "The tendency itself was gentle and quiet even during camp, but it allows players to improve their condition at bat or on the bench. Players also seem to be carried by Castro when he enters the batter's box. I think the bench atmosphere is changing and the relationship with the players is very good, so I think it went well together," he said with a big smile.

For the time being, Castro creates an opportunity as the second batter in front of Kim Do-young. Coach Lee Bum-ho said, "(Kim) Ho-ryeong is not getting hit right now, so I think it would be better if he started getting hit. I think it would be best for Castro to hit (Kim) Do-young in front of him rather than behind him in No. 2. I am thinking in this batting order because (B) Sung-beom and (Kim) Sun-bin are also good," he said with force.

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*This content was translated by AI.