Choi Jung and Guillermo Heredia are both gone, 'outfield survival' begins... "We will use the players who survive" [Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Guillermo Heredia has left the team. Choi Jung, who had been plagued throughout this season by hip injuries, also disappeared from the first division roster to identify and treat the cause of his condition. The two pillars that held a significant portion of SSG's lineup are now gone.

SSG will play a home game against KIA Tigers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 18th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season.

With the gap to the last-place Kiwoom Heroes narrowed to just 2.5 games, the opposing starting pitcher will be ace James Nail, while SSG will send out Thomas Hatch, who has yet to meet expectations since joining the team. With a difficult game anticipated, the lineup is also reeling from injury setbacks.

SSG set its starting lineup for the day as follows: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Go Myung-jun (third baseman), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Oh Tae-gon (left fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Choi Jun-woo (right fielder).

The lineup has noticeably weakened. Heredia left due to a shoulder injury after the first half of the season, and while Bly Madris was temporarily brought in as a replacement, administrative procedures such as visa processing remain incomplete, preventing him from playing. Choi Jung was removed from the first division roster to address his unexplained hip pain that has troubled him throughout the season.

In yesterday's game, SSG trailed 3-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs and runners on first and second. Jung Jun-jae and Park Sung-han failed to advance the runners, and a walk by Go Myung-jun loaded the bases with two outs. Hong Dae-in, who had entered as a pinch runner in place of Jeon Ui-san, grounded out to the second baseman, resulting in a disappointing loss. It was regrettable that Jeon Ui-san did not get a chance at bat, but given SSG's lack of suitable pinch-hitting options, they had no choice but to actively utilize a pinch runner to score even one run.

The team is considering which player to call up from the Futures League. Manager Lee Sung-yong (55) said before the game, "We've been told that Ryu Hyo-seung has improved. Once Madris plays in tomorrow's practice game and another player comes in next week, someone else will have to be released. The outfield situation can almost be described as a survival contest."

While competition keeps the roster healthy, SSG's situation is somewhat different. There was an underlying bitterness in Manager Lee's remarks. With Heredia also gone, it has become increasingly difficult to find a player who can fulfill their role in the outfield.

There are Kim Sung-wook and Choi Jun-woo, but their batting averages over the last 10 games have been as low as 0.154 and 0.077, respectively, indicating a significant drop in form. Kim Jae-hwan, a power hitter who joined the team this season, has hit 13 home runs, but his batting average remains a mere 0.209, making him an unreliable option. Considering the physical demands and defensive capabilities required for outfield play, he is not a priority choice. This explains why he has primarily been used as a designated hitter recently.

In this situation, utility man Oh Tae-gon will start in the outfield today.

The team urgently needs contributions from new faces. Manager Lee said, "That's why we also called up Im Geun-woo. We plan to give Yang Hyeon-jong a chance when he starts tomorrow. We need to let players compete and use those who survive. We've been told Ryu Hyo-seung is better than Han Yu-seom. If Hyo-seung joins, he will overlap with Kim Jae-hwan, so we'll have to consider that as well. For now, we plan to give opportunities to the existing players."

Last season, Ryu Hyo-seung and Hyun Won-hoe provided crucial support in the final stretch of the season. Although Ryu Hyo-seung had weaknesses in outfield defense and received fewer opportunities after Kim Jae-hwan joined, he is scheduled to be called up again. This season, in the Futures League, Ryu has recorded a batting average of 0.292, four home runs, 24 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.830. Over his last 10 games, he has hit .444, demonstrating a hot bat.

Manager Lee added, "This is a great opportunity. Players are working hard, but simply being diligent isn't enough in professional baseball. What matters most is delivering strong performances in games. I hope they can show that level of performance more consistently."

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*This content was translated by AI.