'Wins Champion' Riley to start on the 6th; 'Returning to NC' Koo Chang-mo to return on the 10th, completing NC's starting rotation [Incheon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

NC Dinos' starting rotation is set to strengthen. Last year's wins champion Riley Thompson (30) and Koo Chang-mo (29), who had been sent to the minor league for rest, are both poised to return.

Lee Ho-jun (50), NC's manager, met with reporters ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 5th, stating, "Riley will start tomorrow."

Last season, wearing the NC uniform, Riley pitched 172 innings in 30 games, posting a record of 17 wins and 7 losses with an ERA of 3.45, leading the league in wins.

Expectations were high for this season as well, and he was selected as the opening day starter, but he suffered an injury to his inner thigh muscle, forcing him to miss more than six weeks. NC signed Drew VerHagen as a replacement foreign player, but he recorded 1 win and 1 loss with an ERA of 4.68 in 6 games, leaving room for improvement.

They have parted ways with VerHagen, and now it is Riley's time. Riley has steadily improved his physical condition and, in a Futures League game against Lotte Giants on the 30th of last month, pitched 5 innings allowing 1 hit with no walks and 6 strikeouts in a scoreless performance, preparing perfectly.

Manager Lee Ho-jun said, "He pitched in minor league games accordingly to prepare like that. He threw up to 80 pitches. The 5 innings ended too early, finishing around the 50th-something pitch count, so he made up the remaining number in the bullpen."

Koo Chang-mo is also returning. Having appeared in 6 games this season with 3 wins and no losses and an ERA of 2.88, Koo was removed from the first-division roster the day after his game against KIA Tigers on the 29th of last month (6 innings, 3 earned runs). The decision was made to give Koo, who frequently suffers injuries, a break early on.

The manager announced that he will start in a first-division game immediately after completing ten days. Manager Lee Ho-jun stated, "Ten days will end on the 9th, and he will start on the 10th. He will enter the Samsung game."

NC's starting rotation ERA stands at 4.63, ranking 9th. Nevertheless, with a record of 14 wins and 16 losses, they are tied for 5th place. The return of two reliable starting resources is expected to serve as a stepping stone for a leap into the upper ranks.

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*This content was translated by AI.