"If there's someone better, we must bring them in without hesitation," Samsung manager Park Jin-man denies rumors of foreign pitcher replacement [Daegu Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man (50) did not deny recent rumors about replacing a foreign pitcher.

Ahead of the home game against LG Twins at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 7th for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, Manager Park stated cautiously, "There is no confirmed new foreign pitcher yet. I saw the article and heard about it today for the first time myself. Since I wasn't aware either, now that it's being finalized..."

Recently, rumors circulated in the baseball community that Samsung would replace injured Matt Manning's temporary foreign replacement, Jack Oraclean (26). Chris Fedek (30), a right-handed pitcher once considered one of MLB's top prospects, was mentioned as a potential alternative.

In response, Samsung general manager Lee Jong-yeol (53) told reporters, "Nothing is confirmed yet. It is true that Fedek is on the list, but we are currently evaluating three to four players."

These rumors stem from Oraclean's poor performance. He joined Samsung at the start of the season as a replacement for the injured Manning. In May, he contributed to Samsung's strong run with five games, four wins, no losses, and an ERA of 3.49. However, his momentum has waned since June. Over his last five games, he recorded one win, two losses, and an ERA of 5.79, while his innings pitched dropped sharply to just 23⅓.

For Samsung, currently in second place, just one game behind first-place LG Twins, this is a disappointing situation. When asked by reporters whether they need a stronger foreign pitcher, Manager Park firmly replied, "To always aim higher, we must be ready to prepare foreign players at any time. If someone has better skills than our current foreign pitchers, we must bring them in without hesitation. Only then can we achieve good results." He added, "It is true that Oraclean's performance has declined significantly. His velocity has also dropped considerably compared to the early season."

This three-game series, held just before the All-Star break, is being called the biggest matchup of the first half. With only a one-game difference between the two teams, the outcome of this series could determine who finishes in first place as the first half concludes.

The starting pitcher matchups will also feature a direct confrontation among the top three starters. Samsung will start Ariel Furado, followed by Jack Oraclean and Won Tae-in. LG will counter with Anders Tollhurst, Im Chan-kyu, and Lachlan Wells.

There are also changes in the first-team rosters. Samsung removed Choi Won-tae, Yang Chang-seop, and Kim Do-hwan, while registering Miyaji Yura, Kim Young-woong, and Lee Byung-hun. Kim Do-hwan was removed due to reserve training. LG registered Lee Jae-won and Lee Jung-yong in place of Lee Sang-young, who was sent down the previous day (the 6th).

On this day, Samsung lined up with Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Hyun-jun (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), and Shim Jae-hoon (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Furado.

LG countered with Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Moon Jung-bin (designated hitter), Moon Sung-ju (left fielder), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Tollhurst.

Manager Park smiled, saying, "Just two weeks ago, our batting cycle hit rock bottom, but after traveling to Changwon last week, our form improved. Over the past week, our batting rhythm has risen significantly, and just in time for this final three-game series of the first half, our momentum has returned."

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*This content was translated by AI.