[breaking news] KIA's surprise attack! Dale's first deployment of the season → Lee Bum-ho, "I'm in good condition, so I'll take one more at-bat."

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers showed an unconventional lineup in which they forward-deployed "Asia Quarter" infielder Jarryd Dale (26), who had been performing well in the bottom batting order earlier this season, with a surprise leadoff.

Ahead of the home game of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League" against the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 7th, KIA unveiled the starting list that will be followed by Jarryd Dale (striker), Kim Ho-ryeong (middle fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (left fielder), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Park Sang-joon (first baseman), Kim Tae-gun (possession) and Park Jae-hyun (right fielder).

The biggest change is by far shortstop Jarryd Dale's position. Dale, who went through an adaptation period in the bottom batting order at the beginning of the season, has a batting average of 0.333 (8 hits in 24 at-bats) and a three-run OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.824, in seven games this season. The scoring batting average is also 0.429, which is strong against chances.

Coach Lee Bum-ho gave a clear reason for Dale's No. 1 deployment in a pregame interview. Regarding Dale's No. 1 deployment, coach Lee said, "I also thought about putting him in No. 2. I decided Kim Ho-ryeong because she seemed a little burdened by the first batting order. Dale has a lot of ground balls, so he thought it would be better to put Kim Ho-ryeong in No. 2. Dale sees the ball well and has a good batting average. He explained, "I tried to make a player in good condition enter at least one more at-bat."

In fact, coach Lee Bum-ho and other coaching staff saw Dale as a leadoff candidate from spring camp. In response to this, director Lee Bum-ho said, "It was also a picture I wanted you to do. In fact, it was the part that I was most worried about who should go into the batting order first. (Dale) was a little hard in the exhibition game, so he tried to adapt to the league by putting it in the lower batting line. I feel like I'm done adapting to some extent now, and I want to see how I play in No. 1," he added.

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*This content was translated by AI.