'Even the KBO's top catcher has days like this': After sitting out Game 2, he started as the No. 6 hitter in the KIA game today (12th) — a first in 967 days [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Yang Eui-ji (39), the "living legend" and Korea's top catcher, will start at the No. 6 spot in the lineup, not in the heart of the order. It has been 976 days since he was placed at No. 6.

Doosan will play an away game against the KIA Tigers at the Gwangju-KIA Champions Field at 6:30 p.m. on the 12th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

This is an important week for Doosan. The team wrapped up a three-game series against the SSG Landers last weekend with two wins and one loss, marking a winning series and building momentum. They have won their last two games. Above all, the quality of play was strong. Once they took the lead, they held on until the end to secure victories.

Coincidentally, both Doosan and KIA have recorded 17 wins, one tie, and 19 losses this season, tying for fifth place in the league. The outcome of this three-game series could determine the direction of the mid-tier teams.

For today's game, Doosan set its starting lineup as follows: Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Cameron (right fielder), Hong Seong-ho (designated hitter), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Jung Soobin (center fielder), Park Ji-hoon (third baseman), and Oh Myung-jin (first baseman). The starting pitcher is left-hander Choi Seung-yong.

Yang Eui-ji's placement at No. 6 in the lineup stands out. His last start at No. 6 was 976 days ago, following the second game of a doubleheader against the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on September 9, 2023.

Yang Eui-ji has been taking a break to regain his form. After the first game of the weekend three-game series against the SSG Landers on the 8th, he sat out the games on the 9th and 10th.

This season, Yang Eui-ji has posted a batting average of 0.205 (25 hits in 122 at-bats), two home runs, five doubles, 16 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 17 walks, 18 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.295, an on-base percentage of 0.322, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.617, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.219. His batting average over the last 10 games is 0.189. From the 5th to the 8th, he went hitless in four consecutive games, with four at-bats in each.

After resting for three days, Yang Eui-ji has returned to the starting lineup for this crucial matchup against KIA. Before the game, Doosan manager Kim Won-hyeong commented on Yang's placement at No. 6: "We wanted to give him some comfort, and he is the most important player on our team. Although he hasn't played for two days, now that he is back in the lineup, he needs to stabilize the team's core. He should get back into the rhythm by playing regularly."

Meanwhile, KIA set its starting lineup against Doosan as follows: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Seon-bin (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Adellin (first baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Yoon Do-hyun (second baseman), Han Jun-su (catcher), and Park Min (shortstop). The starting pitcher is foreign ace Adam Oller.

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*This content was translated by AI.