"For Lotte's future, it's better if they win gold." AG favorites Kim Jin-wook and Choi Jun-yong may leave mid-season, but the manager is OK with it — a commendable situation.

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung (59) expressed willingness despite the expected mid-season departure of key young players due to the Asian Games.

Korean national team manager Ryu Ji-hyun (55) is scheduled to announce the final roster for the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games on the 11th. As in the previous tournament, the team will adopt its own selection criteria: players under 25 years of age or in their fourth year or less of professional play. This applies to all players born in 2001 or later, regardless of their birthday.

At Lotte, pitchers Choi Jun-yong (25) and Kim Jin-wook (24) are considered the most likely candidates. This season, Choi Jun-yong stepped up as the team's closer, posting 22 games, 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 hold, 8 saves, an ERA of 2.70, 23⅓ innings, 22 strikeouts, a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.11, and a batting average against of 0.165, firmly securing Lotte's late-inning defense.

Kim Jin-wook also recorded 11 games, 3 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 3.48, 64⅔ innings, 51 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.19, and a batting average against of 0.239, earning praise for showing marked improvement compared to the past five years. In particular, Kim's growth has been remarkable. After graduating from Gangneung High School, he was selected as the first pick in the second round of the 2021 KBO Rookie Draft, drawing high expectations as a left-handed pitcher capable of throwing pitches exceeding 150 km/h.

Until this year, he struggled with control and never managed to pitch over 100 innings in a single season. However, he never stopped learning and reflecting, and this season he improved by studying changeups from pitchers who excel with sliders, enhancing the effectiveness of his other pitches and advancing to the next level.

There is still much for him to learn. On the previous day (the 3rd), Kim Jin-wook achieved a quality start (QS: 6 or more innings with 3 or fewer earned runs) by allowing 6 innings, 3 hits (including 1 home run), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. He threw a total of 93 pitches, mixing a fastball reaching up to 151 km/h (49 pitches) with 24 sliders, 11 curveballs, and 9 changeups, leading Lotte to an 8-3 victory.

The final inning, in which he was pulled after allowing consecutive hits, was regrettable. At that moment, manager Kim Tae-hyung visited the mound and said something to Kim Jin-wook. Explaining the situation, manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "Since there was a runner on second base, he tried to throw a breaking ball low to induce a ground ball."

He continued, "That's fine, but instead of throwing the breaking ball hard, he reduced his arm swing, which made the motion obvious. Batters would notice that. The arm swing should look the same regardless of the pitch. If it changes from the start of the motion... the message was to throw the breaking ball harder."

Still, the manager could not hide his admiration. Even before the roster was announced, rumors about which players might be selected from which teams indicate that those players are recognized as worthy of representing the national team.

For a professional team manager whose primary concern is results, this situation is complex. The KBO League will not be suspended during the Asian Games period (September 19 to October 4). Naturally, the departure of key players will significantly impact the league's standings race. Nevertheless, manager Kim Tae-hyung, with a broad smile, expressed his willingness to accept Choi Jun-yong and Kim Jin-wook's departure.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung, who said, "Kim Jin-wook has clearly taken a step up this year," added with a smile, "For the sake of the future, it's better if those players win gold medals. My own future may be uncertain, but for Lotte's future, that is the better choice."

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*This content was translated by AI.