'With' home run-home run-home run: The terrifying KIA new foreign investor → Kim Do-young immediately follows with another start! Starting lineup revealed; why was Kim Ho-ryeong excluded? [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

'KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles are set to conclude their midweek three-game series with a winning streak. The starting lineup has been announced.

'KIA will face Hanwha in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field at 6:30 p.m. on the 7th.

'KIA secured an early advantage by defeating Hanwha 12-7 in the first game of the midweek three-game series on the 5th. However, they lost 2-7 on the previous day (the 6th) against Ryu Hyun-jin's strong pitching, making the series record one win and one loss. The team that wins today will be the champion of the winning streak.

'KIA currently holds a record of 15 wins, 1 draw, and 17 losses, two wins short of a .500 winning percentage. Hanwha has recorded 13 wins and 19 losses.

'For today's game, KIA set its starting lineup in the following order: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Dale (center fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Aderlin (first baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Han Seung-yeon (left fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Park Min (third baseman). The starting pitcher is Yang Hyeon-jong.

'Notably absent from the lineup is Kim Ho-ryeong, who started as the second batter and center fielder in the games on the 5th and 6th. Kim Ho-ryeong has posted a batting average of 0.263, three home runs, 15 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.728 this season. However, his performance has dipped recently, with a batting average of 0.146 over the last 10 games. He has not recorded a hit since the game against KT on the 2nd through the Hanwha game on the 6th.

'Aderlin will bat immediately after Kim Do-young in the starting lineup. Aderlin hit a home run in his first at-bat during his Korean debut on the 5th and recorded a multi-home run game on the 6th.

'KIA manager Lee Beom-ho explained the decision to exclude Kim Ho-ryeong from the starting lineup ahead of today's game: "He sent out an SOS. I thought he might be struggling, so I decided to leave him out of today's starting lineup. However, if he gets a chance, he can step in immediately. It seems he has been under a lot of stress lately due to his poor performance. I thought that taking him out of the starting lineup for a day might help him clear his head, which is why I excluded him."

'He added, "He was performing well at the beginning of the season, so I thought there might be a period where he struggles. He has also been playing frequently, which likely led to physical fatigue. It seems his timing may have been affected by his physical condition. I was considering taking him out at some point, and since he sent out an SOS, I decided to remove him for now and plan to bring him back later."

'Regarding Na Sung-beom, he said, "He has now exceeded 100 at-bats. Rather than a fitness issue, other teams likely know how to handle Na Sung-beom by now. I think we need to make some adjustments. He plays a crucial role in the lineup. I believe this is the timing for him to step up. He is a very important player for the team. Since the team's success depends on his performance, I think he needs to exert more effort from now on. If he showcases his full capabilities, the team can become much stronger. I hope he gives his all."

'KIA's starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong has recorded two wins and two losses with an ERA of 3.99 this season. Over 29⅓ innings, he has allowed 25 hits (four home runs), issued 14 walks, recorded 24 strikeouts, and given up 15 runs (13 earned). His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) stands at 1.33, and his batting average against is 0.221. This is his first appearance against Hanwha this season. He has achieved one quality start (six innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs).

'Meanwhile, Hanwha set its starting lineup against KIA in the following order: Lee Jin-young (center fielder), Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Jung Woo-ju. Kim Seo-hyun has been called up to the first division.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.