'Season Batting Average 0.186' Hong Chang-ki Demoted from Leadoff to Ninth Spot; LG Coaching Staff Made the Choice! Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop: "Starting Today, Hitting Coach and Assistant Coach Will Set the Lineup" [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

On this day, LG constructed its lineup with Park Hae-min (center fielder), Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), Cheon Seong-ho (first baseman), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), and Hong Chang-ki (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Anders Tollhurst.

The most noticeable change was the demotion of the entrenched leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki to the ninth spot. Hong, who is approaching free agency at the end of this season, has struggled over 33 games with no home runs, a batting average of 0.186 (113 at-bats, 21 hits), 8 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.372, a slugging percentage of 0.239, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.611.

In his last 10 games, his batting average was 0.222 (36 at-bats, 8 hits), and he has been unable to regain his hitting form. During this period, LG went 5 wins and 5 losses, failing to avoid responsibility as the team remained stagnant.

Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), LG's General Manager, had no intention of shirking responsibility. Before the game, Manager Yeom explained, "I feel my intuition has been poor lately, so starting today, I asked the hitting coach (Mo Chang-min) and the assistant coach (Kim Jeong-jun) to set the lineup and show it to me. With my choices, the team's momentum has been completely blocked for about a week, so I told the coaches to handle it. It seems not bad. I told them to set the lineup for the next week as well."

The team did not consider demoting struggling regulars to the minor league. Golden Glove second baseman Shin Min-jae is in serious trouble this season with a batting average of 0.183 (109 at-bats, 20 hits), 5 RBIs, 9 runs scored, 5 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.288, a slugging percentage of 0.183, and an OPS of 0.471 over 36 games. Regular catcher Park Dong-won is also in poor form with a batting average of 0.208 (96 at-bats, 20 hits), 1 home run, 13 RBIs, 12 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.328, a slugging percentage of 0.292, and an OPS of 0.620 over 33 games.

However, due to ongoing injuries, there are no suitable replacements to step in. Fourth hitter Moon Bo-kyung and outfielder Moon Sung-ju have been sidelined with ankle and adductor muscle injuries, respectively, and center fielder Park Hae-min also has back issues.

Players such as Song Chan-ui, Lee Jae-won, Lee Young-bin, Kim Sung-jin, and Kim Hyun-jong from the minor league have already been called up, while Cheon Seong-ho and Koo Bon-hyuk are performing as regulars. Manager Yeom stated, "Moon Sung-ju is expected to return along with Moon Bo-kyung. I hope (Moon) Sung-ju, who has had many injuries, returns after fully recovering."

He added, "The big plan is now fully operational. Resources that can be deployed from the minor league have already been called up. That is also why we cannot afford any more injuries. We are rotating everyone available, including Song Chan-ui, Lee Jae-won, Cheon Seong-ho, Koo Bon-hyuk, and Lee Young-bin."

On this day, the roster changes were limited to the pitching staff. Left-handed reliever Ham Deok-ju was demoted from the first division, and left-handed pitcher Kim Jo-hee was called up for the second time this season. Ham Deok-ju had a poor ERA of 8.22 in his last 10 games.

Manager Yeom said, "We must hold on well through May. I think our breathing room will open up when Moon Sung-ju and Moon Bo-kyung return in early June. The regulars need to get back on track for us to achieve our goals. At the same time, the backup players must grow so that we become stronger in the second half of the season," expressing hope for a turnaround.

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*This content was translated by AI.