'Batting average 0.366' Moon Sung-ju removed from first division roster, Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop remains calm... Because '400 hitter' Song Chan-ui is there [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) remained unshaken despite the injury to Moon Sung-ju (29), who was leading the lineup.

On the 1st, LG announced its starting lineup for the home game against NC Dinos in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

On this day, LG arranged its lineup as follows: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Cheon Seong-ho (third baseman), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Koo Bon-hyuk (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Anders Tollhurst.

Prior to that, outfielders Moon Sung-ju and Kim Dong-hyun (21) were removed from the first division roster, and infielder Kang Min-gyun (26) and right-handed pitcher Lee Jong-jun (25) were registered in their places.

It is notable that Moon Sung-ju, who had recently appeared as a pinch hitter due to an abdominal injury, was ultimately excluded from the first division roster. Before the game, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop stated, "(Moon) Sung-ju is not doing well. Rather than staying in that condition, it is better to send him down quickly to recover fully. Also, (Song) Chan-ui is performing well. Sung-ju cannot rest unless it is times like this, so we plan to give Chan-ui an opportunity during this period."

The reason for such calmness is the late-blooming power hitter Song Chan-ui. After graduating from Hwagok Elementary, Seonrin Middle School, and Seonrin Internet High School, Song Chan-ui was selected by LG in the second round, 67th overall, of the 2018 KBO Rookie Draft. He was a promising slugger with expected power, but he could not make an impact in the first division. His 2024 record of 66 games and 166 plate appearances remains his highest in the first division.

However, this year, in 10 games, he is batting 0.433 (30 at-bats, 13 hits) with 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, and 7 runs scored, posting an on-base percentage of 0.469 and a slugging percentage of 0.800, gradually blossoming.

Another expected power hitter, outfielder Lee Jae-won (27), will take a bit more time to refine his skills. Lee Jae-won, who returned this year after dominating the Futures League while serving in the national military (Korea Army Baseball Team) last year, showed below-expectation performance in 12 first division games with a batting average of 0.063 (16 at-bats, 1 hit).

Consequently, he was removed from the first division roster on the 20th of last month and is now once again exploding on the second division stage with a batting average of 0.500 (28 at-bats, 14 hits), 8 RBIs, an on-base percentage of 0.600, and a slugging percentage of 0.607 in 8 Futures League games.

Manager Yeom expressed his conviction regarding Lee Jae-won's call-up, stating, "I was extremely conflicted, but I thought if he came to the first division and appeared as a pinch hitter again, it would be the same. Rather than that, I believe it is far more effective to be immediately inserted as a starter when a spot opens up, just like (Song) Chan-ui."

Among the development players registered as regular players, only Lee Jong-jun (25) was registered for the first division, while Lee Sang-young (26) was not. Instead, Lee Sang-young will travel with the first division team. Regarding this, Manager Yeom replied, "Lee Sang-young will be used as a starter in the first division. When he will be deployed is undecided. However, he is training with the first division team. Whether as a starter or in the bullpen, if he does not perform well in the future, he will be sent home. Good players are coming in. Kang Min-gyun will primarily play at second and third base."

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*This content was translated by AI.