'How did the champion hero end up here?' LG Chirinos, 'considering replacement by foreign investor' elbow pain → removed from roster... replacement starter Lee Jeong-yong [Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

Yoni Chirinos (33), the foreign pitcher who led LG Twins to a championship, has ultimately been removed from the 1st team roster due to poor elbow condition, with the possibility of a replacement being considered.

LG Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) met with reporters ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd, stating, "He was removed because his elbow was not in good condition. He is scheduled to receive injection treatment. Since he typically needs about 15 days of rest, he will likely be out for about a month."

Chirinos, who pitched 177 innings in 30 games last season with a record of 13 wins and 6 losses and an ERA of 3.31, also delivered a strong performance of 6 innings with only 1 run allowed in the Korean Series, leading LG to a championship.

However, in this season's 4 games, he has shown a completely different picture with 16 innings pitched, 1 win and 2 losses, and an ERA of 6.75.

Chirinos had also felt discomfort in his elbow last year, though the timing was different. At that time, he complained of discomfort around the end of the first half. Manager Yeom allowed him to rest slightly earlier than usual and included Chirinos in the rotation for the latest possible time in the second half.

However, after appearing in just 4 games this season, he developed an elbow problem. Manager Yeom said, "After his bullpen session the day before yesterday, he said he wouldn't be able to start, so I asked if he would be fine after resting for a while and planned not to remove him from the roster. But after he did catchball yesterday, he said he didn't think he would recover quickly, so I told him to be removed. It's a problem he has been carrying anyway, so rushing it won't help. The health issue that I was worried about has now surfaced, and we need to consider our options."

The team is keeping open the possibility of not only a temporary replacement but also a complete replacement. Manager Yeom added, "The club will make the decision. We haven't reached an agreement with the general manager yet, so I cannot discuss it further. However, I understand that our club prepares quickly and is already making various preparations."

They must now find a pitcher to enter Chirinos's rotation. Manager Yeom said, "Tomorrow might be a bullpen day, so we need to see about the starter," before pausing and then announcing, "Lee Jeong-yong (30) will go."

Lee Jeong-yong, who has only appeared in relief this season, has experience as a starter in the second half of 2023. Since it will take more time for Son Ju-young and Kim Yun-sik to return, a replacement starter is needed until a permanent solution is found, and Lee Jeong-yong has been given the opportunity first.

LG removed Chirinos from the roster and registered Park Si-won today. The starting lineup was set as Park Hae-min (center fielder), Moon Sung-ju (left fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Cheon Seong-ho (third baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Song Chan-ui (right fielder), and Gu Bon-hyeok (second baseman). Lachlan Wells will start as the pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.