Neither Choi Won-tae nor Kim Baek-san could break through the 'five-inning wall'! The Samsung fifth starter competition has fallen into a labyrinth.

*This content was translated by AI.

As the second half of the season approaches with intense competition for first place, uncertainty once again shrouds the spot for Samsung Lions' fifth starter. The 'fifth starter candidates' who stepped forward to earn Manager Park Jin-man's (50) approval failed to complete five innings on consecutive days. Choi Won-tae (29) and Kim Baek-san (23) were the ones involved.

On the 22nd, Samsung lost 1-3 in the second game of a three-game midweek road series against Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. They not only failed to carry over the momentum from their victory in the first game on the 21st but also left some regrets in what was expected to be a turning point for reshaping the starting rotation.

The games on the 21st and 22nd were more like an 'audition' for Samsung's fifth starter. With Yang Chang-seop, Chris Fedek, Won Tae-in, and Austin Bost already securing four of the five starting spots, Choi Won-tae and Kim Baek-san competed for the remaining rotation spot. However, it was painful that neither pitcher managed to surpass the five-inning threshold required for a starting pitcher's win on consecutive days.

In the game on the 21st, Choi Won-tae wavered after allowing a solo home run to Kim Woong-bin in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and his team leading 6-0. From that point onward, Choi exposed signs of instability as consecutive hits and defensive errors piled up, and he was ultimately pulled before completing five innings. Choi's final stats for the 21st were 4⅔ innings, six hits allowed (two home runs), one walk, five strikeouts, and four earned runs (84 pitches thrown). He collapsed with just one out short of meeting the winning pitcher criteria.

Kim Baek-san faced a similar situation. Starting on the 22nd, Kim gave up a massive solo home run that cleared the right-field fence for a distance of 125 meters to leadoff hitter Kim Woong-bin in the bottom of the fifth inning with the score tied at 0-0. After surrendering his first earned run as a major league debutant as the go-ahead home run, Kim's mental state visibly wavered. He then allowed two doubles and one walk before ultimately handing the mound to reliever Bae Chan-seung without completing five innings. Kim's final stats for the 22nd were 4⅓ innings, five hits allowed (one home run), three strikeouts, two walks, and three earned runs. While not bad for a rookie, it fell short compared to his impactful performance of 5⅔ scoreless innings against NC just two days prior.

Manager Park Jin-man had previously stated before the game on the 22nd that "although Choi Won-tae did receive some defensive support, it is difficult to evaluate his performance positively in the end," and added, "We will carefully observe Kim Baek-san's pitching and make changes to the starting rotation depending on the results."

Contrary to the manager's expectations, both pitchers showed sharp instability after allowing home runs and were pulled early, exposing their limitations. With no clear winner emerging ahead of the starting rotation reshuffle, Samsung's fifth starter competition has descended into a labyrinth.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.