"Moon Bo-kyung drafted, we have batting depth" — LG also used only 45 days... 4th hitter 'again' AG candidate

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins, engaged in a fierce battle for first place, now faces a new concern. Starting third baseman and 4th hitter Moon Bo-kyung (26) may be drafted for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (AG) to be held in September this year.

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said ahead of the Jamsil SSG Landers game on the 10th regarding the possibility of Moon Bo-kyung joining the national team for the Asian Games, "(Moon) Bo-kyung being drafted means we have some batting depth. I didn't even consider Bo-kyung; I was thinking of drafting pitchers instead..."

This came just one day before the final roster announcement for the Asian Games. Korea national baseball team manager Ryu Ji-hyun (55) is scheduled to announce the final roster for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Seoul Press Center on the 11th. As in the previous tournament, the team will set its own selection criteria of "under 25 years of age or within four years of professional debut." This applies to all players born in 2001 or later, regardless of their birthday.

Since all players will receive military service exemptions if they win the gold medal, fan reactions regarding the Lee Beon (CEO) team composition have been intense. Interests of each team are intertwined, from position assignments and allocation of players by club to the distribution of players who have completed or not yet completed military service.

LG appeared somewhat free from such discussions. Most of its core players have already completed their military service, and the team has prepared for expected player departures. However, with the need to field its strongest lineup against formidable opponents like Taiwan and Japan, interest has grown in who among the 2001-born wild card players will be selected.

Moon Bo-kyung is at the center of this. Despite playing his home games at the vast Jamsil Baseball Stadium, the left-handed power hitter who has recorded 20 home runs and 100 RBIs for two consecutive years is an indispensable name when discussing the Korean national team's cleanup hitters.

He also demonstrated his clutch ability and competitiveness on the international stage during the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March this year. In the WBC Round 1 match against Australia alone, Moon Bo-kyung drove in four RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run home run, leading South Korea to its first Round 2 (quarterfinals) appearance in 17 years. Moon Bo-kyung's 11 RBIs in Round 1 tied the record for most RBIs by a Korean player in a single WBC tournament, previously set by Kim Tae-gyun in 2006.

With young power hitters increasingly failing to emerge as central figures in the batting lineup, the situation worsened when last year's Rookie of the Year, Ahn Hyun-min (23, KT Wiz), became an uncertain addition due to a hamstring tear. Consequently, the possibility of Moon Bo-kyung joining as a wild card player naturally increased.

LG is now on high alert. The KBO League will not be suspended during the Asian Games period (September 19 to October 4). As LG aims for its second consecutive unified championship, it must enter the final standings race without Moon Bo-kyung.

Other teams face a similar situation of having to proceed without their key players. However, concerns arise because Moon Bo-kyung's role within LG is significant. Moon Bo-kyung failed to maintain his full condition throughout the season due to a back injury sustained during a defensive play in the WBC. On Children's Day, he suffered a damaged ligament in his left ankle while making a defensive play, and only returned to the first division in June.

Despite these setbacks, Moon Bo-kyung demonstrated his presence with a .296 batting average (34 hits in 115 at-bats), four home runs, 21 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.873 in 35 games. Even LG, having spent only 45 days with such a player, finds the upcoming two-week gap in September to feel even more significant.

If Moon Bo-kyung heads to the Asian Games, LG will need to fill both the 4th hitter and third baseman vacancies simultaneously. Currently, Gu Bon-hyuk and Cheon Seong-ho are adequately covering the third base position, while movements among 4th hitter candidates such as Lee Jae-won, Song Chan-ui, and Moon Jung-bin remain weak. How will LG navigate this anticipated challenge?

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*This content was translated by AI.