'50-game suspension ended' Lotte's Kim Dong-hyeok returns to first division just three months after opening day! 'Thigh injury' Reyes to bat third and DH [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants outfielder Kim Dong-hyeok (26), who caused controversy in February this year for illegal gambling, has returned to the first division lineup three months after the season opener.

Lotte announced changes to its first division roster ahead of its visiting match against KIA Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 2nd, 2026, in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season. Replacing infielder Noh Jin-hyuk and outfielder Shin Yun-hoo, who were removed from the first division roster the previous day (the 1st), infielder Son Ho-young and outfielder Kim Dong-hyeok were registered.

The most notable name is Kim Dong-hyeok. Along with Ko Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Kim Se-min, Kim visited a gambling establishment during the first spring camp in Tainan, Taiwan, last February. The gambling venue was classified as illegal even in Taiwan, and the incident spread across social media and online communities along with CCTV footage from the establishment, sparking widespread controversy.

After confirming the facts through interviews, the Lotte organization immediately reported the matter voluntarily to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Clean Baseball Center. At the same time, the four players were immediately sent back to Korea and placed under disciplinary restriction. The KBO imposed a 50-game suspension on Kim Dong-hyeok, who visited the establishment three times, and 30-game suspensions each on Ko Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Kim Se-min. The Lotte organization accepted the KBO's decision and instead disciplined the team's representative director, general manager, and front office managers for negligence in player management.

First, Ko Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, and Kim Se-min, whose suspensions were lifted, were registered for the first division team in the match against Suwon KT Wiz on the 5th last month and bowed their heads to fans first. Kim Dong-hyeok's 50-game suspension ended on the 29th, and he completed his return preparations by playing in Futures League games against Ulsan Whales on May 30 and 31. His two-game performance was 3 hits in 7 at-bats.

On this day, Lotte lined up with Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Kim Dong-hyun (left fielder), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Jang Du-seong (right fielder), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). The starting pitcher was Na Gyun-an.

The most notable player in the starting lineup is Reyes, who was substituted during the previous game (May 31) due to a right thigh cramp. Reyes complained of thigh pain while fielding a hit by Ahn Jung-yeol in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out in the Changwon NC Dinos game. Although he limped off the field and was replaced by Kim Dong-hyun, fortunately, the injury was not serious enough to warrant removal from the roster. A Lotte organization official stated, "No additional examination for Reyes was conducted. He will start today as the designated hitter for management purposes."

In response, KIA lined up with Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Han Jun-su (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Adellin Rodriguez (first baseman), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Kim Kyu-seong (shortstop). The starting pitcher was James Nail.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.