'Finally back' 7.8 billion won FA veteran returns to first division, immediately starts as pitcher. Why? The manager's high expectations for his performance [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

'7.8 billion won FA veteran slugger' Yang Seok-hwan (35) of the Doosan Bears has finally returned to the first division stage. And upon his return, he will immediately start as a pitcher.

Doosan will face the KT Wiz in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 18th.

Doosan suffered a 1-8 defeat the previous day (17th), falling into a two-game losing streak. With 33 wins, 2 draws, and 33 losses, their winning percentage reached 50 percent. They also ended a five-game winning series streak. Still, they must avoid a series sweep.

For this game, Doosan set its starting lineup in the following order: Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Jo Su-haeng (center fielder), Cameron (right fielder), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Kim In-tae (designated hitter), Ryu Seung-min (left fielder), Yang Seok-hwan (first baseman), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), and Lee Yu-chan (second baseman). The starting pitcher for Doosan is Choi Min-seok.

Yang Seok-hwan's return to the first division roster and his selection as the starting lineup's seventh batter and first baseman stands out.

Ahead of this game, Doosan called up Yang Seok-hwan and right-handed pitcher Kim Jeong-woo to the first division, while removing Choi Seung-yong and Kang Seung-ho from the roster.

Yang Seok-hwan has appeared in 27 games this season, recording a batting average of 0.205 (18 hits in 88 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs, 5 runs scored, 8 walks, 29 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.273, an on-base percentage of 0.260, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.533.

In the Futures League, he played in 20 games, posting a batting average of 0.203 (12 hits in 59 at-bats), 3 home runs, 2 doubles, 16 RBIs, 5 runs scored, 1 stolen base, 3 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 6 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.390, and an on-base percentage of 0.246. He has recorded consecutive hits in three straight Futures League games recently.

Yang Seok-hwan was removed from the first division roster on the 4th of last month and was called up to the first division after 47 days.

Ahead of the game, Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung explained the background of the call-up, stating, "Yang Seok-hwan's strength is obviously his power-hitting ability. The team needs power hitting, and his performance in the second division has improved significantly recently. We are placing our expectations on that aspect."

Meanwhile, facing Doosan, KT set its starting lineup in the following order: Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (designated hitter), Ahn Hyeon-min (right fielder), Hiliard (left fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Ryu Hyeon-in (second baseman), Oh Yun-seok (first baseman), Jo Dae-hyun (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). The starting pitcher for KT is So Hyoung-jun.

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*This content was translated by AI.