'Thank you, Cushing' The special part-timer is leaving; the manager's thinking is 'collective closer'... Still, the 'No. 1 pick' is Lee Min-woo

*This content was translated by AI.

No one expected such all-around performance when he was signed as a temporary injury replacement. The time is approaching for the Hanwha Eagles to say goodbye to Jack Cushing (30), who led them through an intense six weeks.

Cushing, who was registered with the first division on the 8th of last month due to Owen White's injury departure, has pitched 18⅔ innings in 14 games, recording 1 win, 2 losses, 36 saves, and an ERA of 4.82.

Although he was expected to fill the void left by White in the starting rotation, the bullpen situation unraveled, leading to a change in Cushing's role. Kim Seo-hyun showed severe struggles, and Cushing was assigned as the temporary closer.

Due to the team's poor performance, save situations rarely arose. Consequently, he was utilized in a manner somewhat different from a traditional closer. He was not a pitcher used for just one inning. He pitched two innings on two separate occasions. He was often brought in even when there was no save situation. Jokes even circulated among fans calling it 'employment fraud,' as he was expected to start but ended up being used in all situations.

Nevertheless, Cushing quietly fulfilled his role. He showed a mature attitude, believing that appearing when the team needed him and holding the line was his duty. Thanks to this, stories have emerged that other teams are keeping an eye on Cushing.

The time for a regretful farewell has come, as White is returning. This also means Willkel Hernandez will return on the 13th. With this, Hanwha will gain strength in its starting rotation, which had been held up by Ryu Hyun-jin and Wang Yencheng alone. Ryu Hyun-jin, Wang Yencheng, Hernandez, White, and Jung Woo-ju will fill the remaining spots in the rotation.

However, concerns about the back end of the bullpen have grown even greater. With Cushing leaving, the team must find a new closer. Kim Seo-hyun, who started the season as the closer, has not found stability even after returning from the minor league following a slump, making it time to designate a new firefighter.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon did not give a definitive answer. "The closer role should be shared among several pitchers depending on the situation," he said, adding, "It's not about a specific 'who,' but rather depending on the team and the opposing lineup. We are considering that approach, and hopefully, that pitcher will perform well."

With no clear card in sight, the plan is to try using various pitchers according to the situation and assign the closer role to the player who stands out.

However, among them, one player is prioritized. Lee Min-woo, who has pitched 14 innings in 11 games with 1 loss, 2 holds, and an ERA of 2.57, has been performing impressively and is considered one of the top Hanwha bullpen pitchers recently.

Manager Kim said, "I think Lee Min-woo will likely be waiting in the back," hinting that Lee Min-woo is the No. 1 pitcher to be used in save situations.

Recently, the lineup has shown a clear rebound. If the starting rotation becomes more cohesive, it is expected that the burden on the bullpen will naturally decrease. With the stabilization of the starting rotation, can Lee Min-woo smoothly transition as the new closer and contribute to Hanwha's leap forward?

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*This content was translated by AI.