'Batting average of 0.067': LG's Lee Jae-won sent to 2nd division; Kiwoom's Park Jun-hyun and KIA's Choi Jimin move up to 1st division after 'Future League' roster changes

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'Jamsil Big Boy,' who failed to live up to his reputation, has finally been sent to the 2nd division. On this Monday, a day without regular-season games, there was significant movement among players in the Future League (2nd division).

Lee Jae-won (27, LG Twins) was added to the Future League team roster on the 20th. The LG Future League team removed Song Chan-ui from its roster.

Drafted by LG as the 17th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 rookie draft, Lee Jae-won has struggled to make a significant impact in the 1st division. While he hit 13 home runs in 2022, his batting average was only 0.224.

He transformed into a completely different hitter during his service in the Army Baseball Team (Republic of Korea Army). In 2024, over 50 games, Lee Jae-won posted a batting average of 0.292, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.042. Last year, over 78 games, he soared with a batting average of 0.329, 26 home runs, 91 RBIs, 81 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.457, a slugging percentage of 0.643, and an OPS of 1.100, ranking second in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage.

After returning to the team following his discharge, Lee Jae-won showed promise in spring training, hitting .265 with 4 home runs, 6 RBIs, 10 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.044 over 12 games.

However, since the season opener, he has struggled in 12 games with a batting average of 0.063 (1-for-16). On the 18th against the Samsung Lions, he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and was ultimately sent to the Future League that day.

In contrast, Song Chan-ui, who hit .340 (17-for-50) with 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.417, a slugging percentage of 0.540, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.957 over 13 games in the Future League this season, is moving up to the 1st division.

Many players have changed positions. Park Jun-hyun (19, Kiwoom Heroes), the top overall pick in the draft this season, is also moving up to the 1st division. Over four games in the Future League this season, he pitched 14 1/3 innings with one loss and no wins, posting an ERA of 1.88. He also held opponents to a batting average of 0.192, proving he is a promising young talent. He was removed from the Future League roster today. Since he pitched five innings in the Lotte Giants game on the 19th, it remains uncertain whether he will be immediately registered for the 1st division.

Additionally, Won Seong-jun, Kim Sung-min, Son Hyun-ki, Oh Hae-sung, and Lee Seung-jae were removed from the Future League roster, while Jeong Se-young, Kim In-beom, Baek Jin-su, Lee Tae-jun, Choi Hyun-woo, and Kim Tae-eon were added.

At KIA Tigers, Jung Hae-young, Kim Ki-hoon, Lee Ho-jin, Ji Hyun, and Kim Tae-gyun were moved from the 1st division to the Future League team. In their place, Choi Jimin, Yoon Jung-hyun, Lee Jun-young, Jo Geon-ho, and Cha Sang-hyun were removed from the 1st division roster. Choi Jimin, who had no runs allowed in the first four games of the season but showed some inconsistency in control, is returning to the 1st division. Over four games in the Future League, he allowed four runs (one earned) in 3 2/3 innings, recording an ERA of 2.45. He is expected to spend about ten days in the Future League before immediately moving up to the 1st division.

Lotte Giants also saw changes. Jeong Cheol-won moved to the Future League along with Kim Chang-hoon and Lee Jung-min. Kim Ki-jun, Lee Seo-jun, and Kim Dong-hyun were removed from the 1st division roster.

At Hanwha Eagles, Lee Gyo-hoon, acquired via trade, along with bullpen resources Kim Do-bin and Yoon San-heum, and Yang Seon-ryul and Kim Kwan-woo, were added to the roster. Jang Yu-ho, Yang Su-ho, Ju Hyun-sang, Ha Dong-jun, and Eom Joseph were removed. At Doosan, Kim Ji-yoon was added and Seo Jun-o was removed.

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*This content was translated by AI.