'Batting average 0.242' Hong Chang-gi excluded from starting lineup... No. 1 Song Chan-ui and No. 5 Moon Jung-bin card deployed again as LG Twins aim for 5th consecutive win. Samsung lineup revealed [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The first-place LG Twins, aiming for a five-game winning streak, suddenly excluded top hitter Hong Chang-gi (33) from the starting lineup.

LG announced the starting lineup for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against the Samsung Lions, to be held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 24th.

On this day, LG constructed its batting order as follows: Song Chan-ui (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Gu Bon-hyeok (second baseman), and Moon Sung-ju (left fielder). The starting pitcher is Anders Tollhurst.

The most notable absence is that of the middle-of-the-order hitter Hong Chang-gi. Hong, who will gain FA status this season, has struggled with a batting average of 0.242 (55 hits in 227 at-bats) in 65 games, recording 20 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 4 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.379, a slugging percentage of 0.286, and an OPS of 0.665.

Although he appears to have revived with a batting average of 0.297 (11 hits in 37 at-bats) over his last 10 games, he has not hit a home run for nine days since the match against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil on the 14th. It is also believed that the fact that the opposing pitcher is left-hander Jack O'Clock (26) was taken into account. O'Clock joined Samsung this season as an injured temporary replacement and has performed well with 5 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 3.89, and 70 strikeouts in 71⅔ innings over 14 games.

Song Chan-ui stepped in as the leadoff hitter in Hong Chang-gi's absence. Song has shown explosive hitting form over his last 10 games with a batting average of 0.484 (15 hits in 31 at-bats), including 2 home runs and 10 RBIs.

The vacancy created by Song Chan-ui moving up in the batting order is filled by Moon Jung-bin, who has been on fire with a batting average of 0.286 (6 hits in 21 at-bats) over his last 10 games. Moon previously demonstrated his power by hitting two home runs in the match against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil on the 21st.

This marks the third time Song Chan-ui has started as the leadoff hitter. Moon Jung-bin's appearance at the No. 5 spot is his fourth. Coincidentally, Moon has recorded four hits, including two home runs, in the three games he has played at the No. 5 spot. Song, too, has adapted well after hitting two home runs when starting at the leadoff position.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.