The "Pitching Kingdom Doosan," built by Kim Won-hyung, finished the first half with the best ERA in the league: "Successfully operated a five-man rotation without injuries." [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

In just half a season, the mound for the Doosan Bears has completely transformed. This remarkable change was achieved under the leadership of 54-year-old manager Kim Won-hyung.

Doosan will conclude the first half after their home game against SSG Landers at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 9th, as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season.

After 86 games, Doosan finished with a record of 43 wins, 41 losses, and 2 ties, placing fifth overall. This achievement was undoubtedly made possible by the strength of their pitching staff. Last year, the team's ERA stood at 4.30, ranking sixth, and they ultimately had to accept a disappointing ninth-place finish in the final standings.

Manager Kim Won-hyung, who took charge after the previous season ended, completely revitalized the mound within just 86 games. In particular, the starting rotation has been overwhelmingly strong.

Choi Min-seok led the league with an ERA of 2.33 and nine wins, while Kwak Bin recorded an impressive 112 strikeouts, topping that category. Foreign import Wes Benjamin also solidified his role with a 2.71 ERA, and Jack Logue, in his second year with Doosan, continues to deliver consistent performances. The starting rotation boasts a 3.63 ERA, the only one among the ten teams to stay in the 3rd-point range.

Reflecting on the first half, manager Kim Won-hyung said, "Fundamentally, having five starting pitchers rotate without major injuries contributed to the overall stability of our pitching staff. Additionally, Lee Young-han and (Kim) Taek-yeon returned from injury, and veterans like (Lee) Yong-chan provided strong leadership. We were quite concerned at the beginning, especially regarding the pitchers, but they performed exceptionally well, allowing us to achieve a positive first-half result." He expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

This has created a virtuous cycle. The stability of the starting rotation has also energized the bullpen and, by extension, the position players. While the team's batting average for the season stands at 0.269, ranking sixth overall, it has improved to 0.287 since June, placing them second in that period.

Manager Kim explained, "As younger position players continue to gain experience through regular game participation, they have performed well at the plate. Although defensive metrics haven't improved significantly yet, the team appears less tense compared to the early season and has gradually shown improvement in critical situations. We hope these positive trends continue into the second half."

Doosan lined up today with Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Jung Soobin (center fielder), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Yang Ui-ji (designated hitter), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Kim In-tae (designated hitter), Ryu Seung-min (right fielder), and Kang Seung-ho (first baseman). Starting pitcher Jack Logue will face off against Thomas Hatch.

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*This content was translated by AI.