'How could this be?' Shocking ERA in the 9th-point range → Commanding officer issues 'ultimatum': "You can be sent down to the minors at any time..." What happened to the unexpected national team ace?

*This content was translated by AI.

Will Lee Ui-ri (24), a native starting pitcher for the KIA Tigers who has been active as the national team's left-handed ace wearing the Taegeuk mark, make a dramatic comeback? The commanding officer has decided to give him one more chance.

Lee Ui-ri has started in 8 games this season, recording 1 win, 4 losses, and an ERA of 9.00. Over a total of 28 innings, he has allowed 33 hits (6 home runs), issued 26 walks, and recorded 32 strikeouts, while giving up 28 runs (28 earned). His WHIP stands at 2.11, and his batting average against is 0.297.

Lee Ui-ri made his first appearance on March 29 against the SSG Landers, lasting 2 innings, allowing 4 hits, issuing 3 walks, striking out 1, and giving up 4 runs (4 earned), before collapsing. He was then shaky in the April 4 game against the NC Dinos, pitching 2⅔ innings, allowing 4 hits, issuing 6 walks, and giving up 3 runs (3 earned), and in the the 11th game against the Hanwha Eagles, he pitched 4 innings, allowing 5 hits, issuing 1 walk, and giving up 4 runs (4 earned).

Nevertheless, in his fourth appearance on April 17 against the Doosan Bears, he pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, issuing 2 walks, and striking out 8 in a scoreless effort, securing his first win of the season.

However, he struggled again in the following 4 games. In the the 23rd game against the KT Wiz, he pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, issuing 4 walks, striking out 3, and giving up 5 runs (5 earned). In the the 29th game against NC, he pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, issuing 2 walks, striking out 6, and giving up 3 runs (3 earned).

Finally, in his most recent 2 games, he failed to complete even 3 innings. In the the 5th game against Hanwha, he pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing 2 hits, issuing 5 walks, striking out 3, and giving up 5 runs (5 earned). In the the 10th game against the Lotte Giants, he pitched 2⅔ innings, allowing 4 hits, issuing 3 walks, striking out 4, and giving up 4 runs (4 earned), bowing his head.

In fact, his performance is such that it would not be strange if he were sent down to the minors immediately to regroup. Of course, the commanding officer, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho, knows this better than anyone.

Ahead of the the 12th game against Gwangju Doosan, Manager Lee stated regarding Lee Ui-ri, "I spoke with the pitching coach. He is effective against left-handed batters, with his pitches well inside the strike zone. Samsung has many good left-handed batters. We will watch him until the next Samsung game."

KIA will finish a 3-game series against Doosan later this week before traveling to Daegu for a 3-game series against Samsung over the weekend. According to the rotation, Lee Ui-ri is expected to take the mound in the game on the 16th.

Manager Lee added, "If (Kim) Tae-hyung shows a more definite impact than Ui-ri, we may pull him, but for now, we will let him pitch one more time until the Samsung game. Daegu is a small stadium, and it is not a good venue for facing a team with many left-handed batters against right-handed pitchers."

He continued, "Although there were walks in the (the 10th) Lotte game, there were many more instances where the Lotte batters hit the ball and scored. I believe that not only he, but also I, the pitching coach, and the fans will find it difficult to be satisfied. In fact, sending him down to the minors is the easiest solution. It is very beneficial for our team to keep a good pitcher alive in any way possible. It is our job to make him able to pitch well. We hope he pitches well, but it is important to watch him until the Samsung game and find a solution. His remarks were read as containing the meaning of an ultimatum."

KIA will ultimately need Lee Ui-ri to step up if they are to aim for a higher ranking. Will Lee Ui-ri properly respond to the manager's trust and expectations in the Samsung game?

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*This content was translated by AI.