'Shocking comeback loss' Samsung makes major rotation change → Diaz placed in 7th spot for the second time in his career [Daegu]

*This content was translated by AI.

After suffering a shocking comeback loss the previous day (29th), the Samsung Lions made significant changes to their starting lineup.

The most notable change is placing Diaz (30), who has primarily batted fourth, in the seventh spot in the order. Samsung manager Park Jin-man explained ahead of the game against the Doosan Bears held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 30th that he adjusted Diaz's position, stating, "His current form seems to have dropped, so we decided to let him bat in a slightly more comfortable situation rather than in the heart of the lineup."

Diaz posted a .314 batting average, 50 home runs, and 158 RBIs last season, but this season his numbers have dipped to a .293 batting average and 6 home runs, showing somewhat reduced power. In particular, over his last five games, he has hit .182 (4 hits in 22 at-bats) with no extra-base hits. He went hitless in both games against the SSG Landers on the 28th and the Doosan Bears on the 29th.

Diaz, who joined Samsung in August 2024, is making his second career start as the seventh batter, 620 days after his previous appearance in that spot. On September 17, 2024, in a game against Doosan at Jamsil, he batted seventh and recorded 2 hits in 4 at-bats, including 1 home run and 1 RBI. The following day, on September 18, in a game against the Suwon KT Wiz, he batted fourth and hit a three-run home run, regaining his hitting form.

Manager Park Jin-man said, "After batting seventh in 2024, I think he improved a bit. He hasn't been able to execute his swing properly for several games now, so we made a change."

On the previous day, the 29th, in the game against Doosan, Samsung led 7-3 but surrendered 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, resulting in a 7-9 comeback loss. That day, the starting lineup was Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Diaz (first baseman), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), and Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman).

Compared to the previous day, the lineup was adjusted by replacing Park Seung-gyu and Park Gye-beom with Kim Sung-yoon and Ryu Ji-hyuk. Additionally, Kang Min-ho, who has hit consecutive home runs in the last two games, was moved up from the seventh spot to the fifth spot in the batting order.

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*This content was translated by AI.