'7th Foreign Investor' Blye Madris to Start at Third Base and Right Field! 'Hip Pain' Choi Jung's Decision Expected This Weekend [Busan On-Site]

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SSG Landers' 7th foreign player, Blye Madris (30), makes his KBO League debut.

On the 21st, SSG announced its starting lineup for the away game against Lotte Giants at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

For this game, SSG set its batting order as follows: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Blye Madris (right fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (left fielder), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Ryu Hyo-seung (designated hitter), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Hong Dae-in (third baseman). The starting pitcher is Shota Takeda.

Lotte countered with the following lineup: Han Tae-yang (third baseman), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Yoon Dong-hee (center fielder), Son Ho-young (right fielder), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Their starting pitcher is Jeremy Wisely.

The most notable name is Madris. On the 16th, he joined SSG as a replacement for injured foreign player Guillermo Heredia under a total contract worth $100,000. A right-handed batter who bats left-handed, Madris primarily played corner outfield and first base during his career, appearing in 72 games in Major League Baseball (MLB). He hit 73 home runs in Triple-A career totals and this season, while playing for a St. Louis Cardinals-affiliated Triple-A team, he recorded a .277 batting average, 14 home runs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.908 across 71 games — a solid performance. SSG introduced Madris as "an offensive hitter equipped with strong power, contact ability, and plate discipline." The team's manager also expressed high expectations.

Before the game, SSG manager Lee Sung-yong stated, "When I saw Madris hitting during practice, he has good power and a promising trajectory. He is a middle-to-long distance hitter. What matters now is how he performs in actual games. It depends on how well he handles breaking balls and ABS pitches." He added, "I understand that the KBO League strike zone is slightly wider. Even when I asked him questions, he offered several pieces of advice, which made me feel he is smart. He also clearly understands his role and what needs to be done for the team."

With many injured players on SSG, Madris' performance is crucial. The biggest concern remains franchise star and primary hitter Choi Jung. Due to pain in his left hip area, Choi was removed from the first-team roster on the 17th. Manager Lee said, "We expect a decision regarding Choi around this weekend. We are actively investigating options in the U.S. and Japan, and depending on the results, we will formulate concrete plans."

Additionally, there were significant changes to the first-team roster. First baseman Go Myeong-jun, outfielder Kim Sung-wook, and pitcher Han Du-sol were removed from the roster, replaced by outfielder Madris, pitcher Takeda, and infielder Choi Yun-seok. Oh Tae-gon requires approximately 10 days of recovery due to a minor tear in his lumbar disc. Go Myeong-jun was removed due to a grade 1 strain of the left adductor muscle, while Kim Sung-wook was taken off the roster the previous day due to pain in his left ribs.

Manager Lee remarked, "Go Myeong-jun will likely need another examination in two weeks. Kim Sung-wook continues to experience pain whenever he tries to play; he says it hurts on his side. We intended to manage injuries carefully, but it hasn't worked out as planned. We prepared since the end of last season, and the players trained diligently, yet injuries keep occurring. As a manager, I feel deeply regretful."

Currently sitting at 32 wins, 3 draws, and 55 losses, SSG is in ninth place, just one game ahead of last-place Kiwoom Heroes (32 wins, 2 draws, 57 losses). Depending on the series outcome, they could drop to the bottom of the standings. Manager Lee reflected, "The poor results are entirely my fault. Last year we finished third and began preparing early from the closing camp. We increased training volume, synchronized efforts with the players, and thought we would be well-prepared for this season starting from spring camp, but real baseball is not easy."

He continued, "I find myself reflecting deeply on my own actions. There seems to be no choice but to prepare even more thoroughly. I am determined to work harder with the players, coaching staff, and front office to ensure a season like this never happens again."

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*This content was translated by AI.