"Continuously checking status": 7-win foreign ace removed from first division; So Hyoung-jun and Oh Won-seok also absent... How will they survive for at least four days?

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz, currently engaged in a fierce battle for first place with a 1.5-game lead over the team in second, continues to face setbacks. Caleb Bossiers (33), the foreign ace who has consistently held up the mound, has been removed from the first division roster due to shoulder pain.

The KT organization announced on the previous day (the 2nd) that Bossiers and catcher Jang Sung-woo (36) would be removed from the first division roster. According to a KT official, Bossiers is scheduled for rest after experiencing pain in his right shoulder. The same applies to Jang Sung-woo, who has a batting average of 0.115 (3 hits in 26 at-bats) over his last 10 games.

This is an emergency situation for KT. Bossiers, who joined KT this year, was the only pitcher in a volatile rotation to deliver consistent performance. With 11 games, 7 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 3.16, 62⅔ innings, 15 walks, and 56 strikeouts, he was the ace with the most wins on the team. It was particularly regrettable that he delivered a powerful performance in the previous game on May 31 against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok, pitching 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, no walks, and striking out 10 batters without allowing a run.

The timing is also unfavorable. National team pitchers So Hyoung-jun (25) and Oh Won-seok (25) were already absent from the first division due to injuries and poor performance, leaving significant gaps in the rotation. In particular, the absence of So Hyoung-jun has lasted nearly a month. So Hyoung-jun is currently undergoing rehabilitation after experiencing shoulder pain in the match against Suwon Lotte on the 5th of last month.

Oh Won-seok was also removed from the first division on the 28th of last month for rest and reorganization, having posted an ERA of 7.20 over 5 games in May. Although he is currently traveling with the first division team for simple rest purposes, even if he returns after a full ten days, he will not be able to return until the 7th, meaning they must endure for at least four days without these two. A KT official stated, "Both So Hyoung-jun and Bossiers are continuously being checked. We are also monitoring whether hospital examinations are needed before making a decision."

During their absence, the schedule was also challenging. KT faces the first-place LG Twins in a three-game series during the week and the SSG Landers, who are striving to break their losing streak, in a three-game series over the weekend. SSG is one of the two teams (the other being the Samsung Lions with a 1-4 record) against which KT has a poor head-to-head record.

The first game after the three players left ended in a decisive defeat. Han Cha-hyun, who replaced Oh Won-seok, collapsed after pitching 5 innings, allowing 10 hits (including 3 home runs), 2 walks, striking out 4, and giving up 6 earned runs, leading to a 1-10 loss for KT. Consequently, Han Cha-hyun was removed from the first division along with outfielder Jung Jun-young ahead of the game on the 3rd. The void was filled by pitcher Lee Sang-dong and outfielder Lee Jae-won.

Until Oh Won-seok returns on the 7th, Moon Yong-ik and Bae Je-seong are expected to fill the remaining vacancies. Moon Yong-ik has already started as the pitcher in the Gocheok Kiwoom game on the 30th of last month, and Bae Je-seong, who has returned from injury, has started three times and is gradually increasing his innings pitched.

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*This content was translated by AI.