Kim Young-woong's surprise selection is excluded! Park Jin-man said, "I'm a little uncomfortable with my hamstring → I'm not even going to the hospital for management."

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Young-woong (23), the "next big shot" of the Samsung Lions, was abruptly excluded from the starting lineup. Coach Park Jin-man (50) explained that it was not a major injury, but it was a decision to protect the player.

The Samsung Lions, led by head coach Park Jin-man, made a lineup change ahead of the second game of the season against the KIA Tigers of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League" at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 8th.

On this day, Samsung formed the lineup in the order of Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Jeon Byung-woo (third baseman), Kim Tae-hoon (right fielder), Park Se-hyuk (catcher), and Lee Jae-hyun (striker). The biggest feature is the absence of Kim Young-woong's name as the main third baseman.

In a meeting with reporters, coach Park Jin-man said, "It's for management. "I was running on base at the end of the game on the 7th, and I felt a little uncomfortable in my left hamstring, so I decided not to overdo it," he said. "It is an exclusion for management. It is not a situation that requires a hospital examination, he said.

Kim Young-woong's departure is regrettable at a time when Samsung has recently been on the rise, ranking fourth with five wins, three losses and one draw. However, it is interpreted as a reflection of Park's "management baseball" that he will not use his core power excessively as it is early in the season.

Accordingly, Samsung will fill the gap by starting Jeon Byung-woo as the sixth batter and third baseman. In addition, Park Se-hyuk was the starting catcher, giving the homeowner Kang Min-ho a break.

On the starting mound, left-hander Lee Seung-hyun, who pitched five innings of one run against Doosan on the 2nd, will go on to hunt for his second win of the season. Attention is focusing on whether Samsung, which gained momentum by defeating KIA 10-3 the previous day, will be able to overcome Kim Young-woong's gap and continue its winning streak.

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*This content was translated by AI.