'10-game batting average of 0.393': Shin Min-jae excluded from starting lineup, LG manager Yeom says "He has run at full speed, he needs to rest" [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Shin Min-jae (30, LG Twins), who is shaking off a slump and riding a recent upward trend, has been removed from the starting lineup.

Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), manager of LG, said ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against Hanwha Eagles to be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 4th, "He needs some rest. He has been playing at full speed until now," and added, "If he continues like this, he could suffer a hamstring injury."

After leading LG to the championship last year with a .313 batting average in 135 games and winning the second baseman's Golden Glove award, Shin Min-jae has experienced some ups and downs this season. He is currently batting .249 in 80 games, and until mid-last month, his batting average was nearly two points lower.

He has recently surged with a .393 batting average (11 hits in 28 at-bats) over the last 10 games, raising his overall average. Even though the team managed only one run the previous day, Shin Min-jae fulfilled his role with two hits in three at-bats.

However, he was absent from the starting lineup today. The previous day, LG had fielded a lineup composed entirely of left-handed batters against Owen White, a left-handed pitcher known for being weak against lefties, but managed only four hits over seven innings and failed to break through the opponent's defense. Nevertheless, Shin Min-jae was among the few batters who recorded a hit against White, who had pitched well.

Today is a rest day. The team has taken only one day off out of 81 games played, and it has been judged that he is due for a break. In fact, Shin Min-jae has participated in more games than any other LG batter except Park Hae-min and Austin Dean, who have appeared in every game.

Today's starting lineup was Hong Chang-gi (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Lee Young-bin (shortstop), and Koo Bon-hyeok (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Jang Hyun-sik.

Right-handed batters Moon Jung-bin and Song Chan-ui were included, balancing the lineup with five left-handed hitters and four right-handed hitters. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop explained that he based his decision on data for Hanwha's starting pitcher Will Hernandez, stating, "There was no significant difference between lefties and righties." Hernandez recorded a batting average against of .295 against right-handed batters and .263 against left-handed batters this season, but the manager noted that this difference is not statistically significant compared to the previous day.

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*This content was translated by AI.