Lotte Aims to Escape Last Place; Register Yoon Dong-hee, Jung Cheol-won, Jung Hyun-soo, Koyama, and Kim Min-seong — Major Roster Overhaul

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants have made a major roster change to escape last place. With the return of key outfielder Yoon Dong-hee (23) to the first division, the team has added several new faces to the pitching staff and is now chasing the ninth-place Kiwoom Heroes.

On the 29th, ahead of a home game against Kiwoom Heroes at Busan Sajik Stadium, Lotte unexpectedly registered infielder Kim Min-seong, outfielder Yoon Dong-hee, and pitchers Jung Hyun-soo, Jung Cheol-won, and Koyama on the first-division roster.

This move represents a strategic gamble to change the team's momentum by swapping out five players at once. In return, Seo-joon Lee, Kim Han-hol, Kim Kang-hyun, Park Jun-woo, and Lee Young-jae were removed from the first-division roster to allow for a period of reorganization. The decision reflects the team's judgment to prioritize proven resources and continue their winning streak.

The most notable aspect of this roster adjustment is the addition of Yoon Dong-hee, a core player on both offense and defense. Although he started as a regular outfielder, he fell into a slump with a batting average of 0.190 (12 hits in 63 at-bats) and was removed from the first-division roster on the 18th following the Hanwha Eagles game for reorganization. With the addition of veteran infielder Kim Min-seong, who brings extensive experience, the team aims to boost both focus and defensive stability in the latter stages of the season.

The pitching staff also underwent significant changes. By calling up rookie Jung Hyun-soo along with Jung Cheol-won and Koyama simultaneously, the team signaled its determination to prevent overuse of the bullpen and strengthen the late-inning defense.

With Lotte rebuilding a lineup that is nearly at full strength, fans' attention is now focused on Sajik Stadium to see if this major roster overhaul will serve as a springboard for escaping the bottom of the standings and igniting a push toward the middle of the pack.

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*This content was translated by AI.