"Jang Hyun-sik to start" — Today (13th), Kim Jin-su takes the mound! LG's rotation becomes even more intriguing

*This content was translated by AI.

The LG Twins' starting rotation, which has been turbulent due to injuries and poor performance, is undergoing another change. The names now being discussed are particularly intriguing because they were never mentioned as starting candidates at the beginning of the season.

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop revealed his plans on the 12th ahead of the Jamsil Lotte game: "Jang Hyun-sik will start next. Kim Yun-sik will be used as a long reliever while also serving in a middle-relief role."

This follows the contrasting performances of two of the five starting candidates in the Jamsil SSG game on the 11th. In LG's 15-1 victory over SSG, starting pitcher Kim Yun-sik (26) struggled over 2⅓ innings, allowing 2 hits, issuing 4 walks (3 walks plus 1 hit batter), striking out 1, and giving up 1 earned run. Reliever Jang Hyun-sik (31), who entered the game afterward, pitched 4⅔ innings without allowing a walk, striking out 5, and remaining scoreless, allowing LG to stabilize the game effectively.

This season, LG has faced difficulties in managing its rotation. Hand Soon-young (28) was sidelined just before the season opener due to injury, and last year's 11-win left-handed starter Song Seung-gi (24) has been underperforming. After Yoo Young-chan (29) underwent elbow surgery, the situation worsened, forcing the injured Hand Soon-young to return as the closer.

However, a gap remains in the starting rotation, giving various pitchers opportunities to compete for the five starting spots. Lee Jeong-yong (30), who was highly anticipated, has struggled with a 6.42 ERA in 15 games, while Kim Yun-sik's 4.32 ERA in 12 games is also far from satisfactory.

Amid this, long relievers Jang Hyun-sik and Kim Jin-su (28) have delivered unexpected strong performances, becoming new sources of hope. Jang Hyun-sik, originally expected to be the closer, saw his ERA spike to 12.00 in May, dropping him into the losing pitcher role. However, since his scoreless 4-inning outing against NC at Jamsil on the 5th, followed by another scoreless 4⅔-inning performance against SSG on the 11th, he has emerged as a new candidate for the fifth starter spot.

Kim Jin-su also began as a losing pitcher. However, he recorded a 1.72 ERA in 12 games during May, LG's most critical month, and has now risen as a reliable pitcher. With his ability to handle multiple innings, he has elevated his role to that of a bulk guy, capable of fulfilling both the fifth starter and relief duties.

Song Seung-gi's sudden demotion to the minor league provided a good opportunity to experiment with these pitchers. Ahead of the Jamsil SSG game on the 11th, Song Seung-gi took a 10-day rest due to left back muscle strain. Manager Yeom stated, "I believe it's better for Song Seung-gi to rest early when he's not performing well. Ten days should be enough for him to recover."

At the same time, changes were made to the catcher position. Until now, Lee Ju-heon (23) had been Song Seung-gi's primary catcher. They had worked together extensively since their Futures League days, and their combined performance last year was not poor. This year, Lee Ju-heon was primarily started on days when Song Seung-gi pitched, but that formula is now being broken.

Manager Yeom said, "I think it's time for Song Seung-gi and Lee Ju-heon to part ways. We've already extracted everything possible from their partnership." He added, "I believe veteran catcher Park Dong-won will be much more helpful for Seung-gi at this point. Lee Ju-heon will continue to start in fifth starter games."

Naturally, many changes are expected for Jang Hyun-sik's next appearance. Jang Hyun-sik, who debuted in the first division in 2013, started full-time only during his time with NC in 2017, and his last start came during his time with KIA in 2020. The player himself seems ready for any role.

After leading the team to victory in the game on the 11th, Jang Hyun-sik calmly shared his thoughts: "When I stepped onto the mound, I focused on handling only the batters assigned to me. There was no significant difference from my previous appearances. I pitched with the same mindset and confidence."

He continued, "I decided to do what I can do well in any situation, so I have no burden regarding this new role. Thanks to the strong support from fans recently, the team is doing well. I want to express my gratitude to the fans once again."

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*This content was translated by AI.