'This is unbelievable': The only Korean major leaguer to start today (24th) is Song Seong-moon alone.

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Seong-moon (29) of the San Diego Padres will be the only Korean major leaguer to start today (24th).

On the 24th (Korean time), at 10:40 a.m., San Diego will play a 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular-season home game against the Athletics at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA.

For this game, San Diego has set its starting lineup as follows: Fernando Tatis Jr. (second baseman), Miguel Andujar (designated hitter), Gavin Sheets (left fielder), Manny Machado (third baseman), Nick Castellanos (right fielder), Jackson Merrill (center fielder), Ty France (first baseman), Freddy Fermin (catcher), and Song Seong-moon (shortstop).

The starting pitcher is right-hander Lucas Giolito, who holds a 1-0 record with a 5.40 ERA in this season's games prior to this one.

Song Seong-moon's name stands out. Among the four Korean major leaguers, he is the only one starting today. Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) has left the lineup due to injury, while Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) and Kim Hye-seong (27, Los Angeles Dodgers) were both excluded from the starting lineup today.

Since stepping onto the big league stage ahead of this season, Song Seong-moon has appeared in 14 games, posting a .211 batting average (4 hits in 19 at-bats), 1 double, 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases (0 caught stealing), a .318 on-base percentage, a .263 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.581.

In yesterday's game (23rd), Song Seong-moon was inserted as a defensive replacement (second baseman) in the bottom of the 8th inning with his team leading 4-3, and he completed one plate appearance. In the top of the 8th with two outs and runners on first and second, he was retired on an infield fly ball.

Seizing the opportunity to start today, Song Seong-moon aims to make a strong impression with a rebound.

Meanwhile, San Diego has recorded 30 wins and 20 losses this season, placing second in the National League West. The gap with the division-leading Dodgers is only 0.5 games. The Athletics, with a record of 26 wins and 25 losses, are leading the American League West.

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*This content was translated by AI.