"Would Flexen have performed this well?" Doosan's manager questions, as the decision to re-sign foreign investor Wes Benjamin on a six-week short-term contract after displacing him with regular staff is deemed 'natural' [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyung (54) expressed that the decision to re-sign foreign pitcher Wes Benjamin (33) was only natural.

Manager Kim Won-hyung stated ahead of Doosan's home game against Lotte Giants at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 2nd, 2026, as part of the regular season: "Benjamin is a player with excellent character, but what truly mattered was his ability to pitch well on the mound. His strong performance was the decisive factor in securing his re-signing."

Previously, Doosan officially announced that it had signed foreign pitcher Wes Benjamin, who anchored the team's pitching staff during the short-term contract period, to a formal agreement worth $450,000 (approximately 700 million won).

Benjamin, who played for KT Wiz from 2022 to 2024, joined Doosan on a six-week contract in late April as an injury replacement for Chris Flexen (32). However, Flexen did not return even after the six weeks passed. Benjamin then extended his contract for another six weeks, leading the Doosan starting rotation steadily with 13 games played, 4 wins, 6 losses, an ERA of 2.66, and 74⅓ innings pitched with 68 strikeouts, earning the manager's approval.

Ultimately, Flexen ended his brief reunion after six years with two wins and an ERA of 5.40. Manager Kim Won-hyung explained: "I believe Flexen would have performed similarly if he had been healthy. However, Benjamin filled Flexen's absence so impressively that I sometimes wondered, 'Would Flexen have done this well?' His performance on the field yesterday (the 1st) and his overall ability suggest he deserves to stay with us until the end of the season."

Kim also expressed high expectations for foreign hitter Yuneo Severino (27), whose signing was announced alongside Benjamin's. To address the long-standing gap at first base and designated hitter, Doosan placed outfielder Daz Cameron (29), who had performed adequately, on waivers.

Severino was signed to fill that spot for a total of $200,000. A right-handed batter from the Dominican Republic, Severino stands 183 cm tall and weighs 85 kg. In Triple-A over three seasons, he recorded a .242 batting average, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.770, 34 home runs, and 111 RBIs in 197 games.

This season, Severino played for Olmecas de Tabasco in the Mexican League, recording a .340 batting average, an OPS of 0.931, five home runs, and 44 RBIs in 54 games. A Doosan official stated: "Severino is a player who generates strong hits from both sides of the plate thanks to his excellent swing mechanics. We expect him to contribute significantly to our team's offensive production in key situations."

In response, Manager Kim Won-hyung said: "Replacing Cameron was not an easy decision. While Cameron's offensive stats were not poor, we had young outfielders on the roster and needed to make adjustments for the team's situation. Additionally, we needed to address issues at first base this season."

He added: "I have reviewed the footage. Any player looks good with a solid swing and timing when they hit the ball squarely. What matters most is how well they perform in critical moments. After much deliberation, we made a bold decision. We hope Severino, who will now play first base, can resolve our concerns."

On this day, Doosan lined up its batting order as follows: Kim Min-seok (left field), Jung Soobin (center field), Park Jun-soon (second base), Yang Ui-ji (designated hitter), Ahn Jae-seok (third base), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Ryu Seung-min (right field), Yoon Jun-ho (catcher), and Kang Seung-ho (first base). The starting pitcher was Kwak Bin.

Before the game, outfielder Jeon Da-min was removed from the roster, while veteran outfielder Son Ah-seop was activated for the first division. This season, Son has played 35 games in the first division with a .254 batting average (30 hits in 118 at-bats), one home run, and 12 RBIs, posting an OPS of 0.602. In the Futures League, he recorded a .262 batting average and an OPS of 0.833 across 17 games.

Manager Kim Won-hyung explained: "During yesterday's meeting, it was noted that we needed a pinch hitter for the later innings. While Jeon Da-min's departure may have been influenced by his defensive performance yesterday, with (Kim) In-tae starting in the lineup for the second half, there was no pinch hitter available for late-game situations. Actually, we had kept Jeon on the first-division roster to give him more experience, but unfortunately, a disappointing moment arose just as he was being sent down."

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*This content was translated by AI.