"Other teams asked." Explosive interest in foreign investor Logan after six weeks of part-time work; reason for starting as first pitcher in second half [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz has a reason for bringing in temporary replacement foreign pitcher Logan Allen (29) as their first starter for the second half.

On the 16th, KT announced its starting lineup for the visiting game against LG Twins at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

KT's lineup that day was: Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Logan Allen.

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

In the first half, LG recorded 52 wins and 33 losses, while KT finished with 47 wins, 1 draw, and 35 losses, placing them second and third respectively with a 3.5-game gap. This match was crucial as standings could shift depending on the results of the first four-game series in the second half.

To fill the void left by Caleb Boshley's injury, KT inserted Logan, who had arrived mid-season, as their first starter. Logan is a seasoned part-time pitcher who previously played for NC Dinos last year. While he struggled with low velocity and made little impact during his time with NC last year, he has shown a transformed performance this season. Over four games, he recorded one loss without a win but demonstrated stability with an ERA of 3.68, 22 innings pitched, and 13 strikeouts.

Before the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol stated, "They say his velocity has increased by 6–7 km/h compared to last year. He also lost over 10 kg in weight and significantly improved his arm angle. He reportedly learned a lot while playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A team."

He continued, "Even during the All-Star break, managers from other teams asked why Logan had changed so much. Previously, his fastball rarely exceeded 145 km/h, but now it averages 147–148 km/h. His mindset has also improved, and after talking with him, he expressed a desire to continue playing here." He smiled while speaking.

The fact that LG has many left-handed batters was also taken into consideration. Logan recorded one win and one loss with an ERA of 4.50 in four games against LG last year, but KT believed Logan was the right choice for now.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "Among our current starters, he is in the best condition. Although his record against LG last year wasn't good, his performance this season is different, so there is high expectation. He is also a left-handed pitcher."

Naturally, attention turned to whether existing foreign pitcher Boshley would return. Boshley made his KBO debut this year and served as KT's ace with 7 wins and 3 losses in 11 games, posting an ERA of 3.16 over 62⅔ innings with 56 strikeouts. However, he felt pain in his right shoulder during bullpen pitching on the 2nd of last month and has been unable to play for over a month.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol held back from giving details, saying, "Boshley's decision is expected around the day after tomorrow. Logan will pitch today, and since the 21st will be his final appearance, some adjustments may be needed."

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*This content was translated by AI.