"Something is wrong," struggling foreign investor promoted to 6th spot; Kim Hwi-jip sent in at 4th — NC Dinos deploy 'unprecedented lineup'... Lee Woo-seong sidelined again due to 'arm injury' [Incheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Foreign hitter Blaine Cream (29, NC Dinos) has been moved down from the 4th spot to the 6th spot. Kim Hwi-jip (24) takes his place.

On the 26th, NC will face the SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field in a visit game for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

For today's game, the starting lineup was arranged as follows: Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Park Geon-woo (designated hitter), Blaine Cream (first baseman), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), Kim Hyung-jun (left fielder), Oh Jang-han (right fielder), and Cheon Jae-hwan (center fielder). Rylee Thompson will make the starting appearance.

The most notable change is that Matt Davidson's replacement, foreign hitter Blaine Cream, has moved down from the 4th spot to the 6th spot. Kim Hwi-jip stepped in to take his place.

Ahead of the game, manager Lee Ho-jun (50) said, "He needs an adjustment period right after arriving, and it seems he is feeling burdened while batting at the 4th spot. He also recognizes that his mechanics have collapsed, so adjustments are needed." He added, "He told me while watching video that 'something is wrong.' So today, he came out a bit early to find his form indoors. After considering various factors, we decided to move him to the 6th spot."

Blaine, who joined as a replacement for home run champion Matt Davidson (Kiwoom), has recorded a .306 batting average (49 at-bats, 15 hits), one home run, 10 RBIs, and six runs scored in 13 games. However, his OPS (on-base plus slugging) stands at 0.783, which is somewhat disappointing. Notably, he has gone hitless three times in his last five games.

The manager believes an adjustment period is necessary. Manager Lee stated, "I thought such a phase would come. Too many breaking balls are coming in, and the velocity of fastballs is slower than what I saw in the U.S., causing timing issues. There has been some confusion on various fronts." He continued, "He mentioned that he plans to have a meal with KT's Hilliard because they are friends. He also reportedly received advice from LG's Austin. To resolve these problems quickly, he is making significant efforts on his own."

Kim Hwi-jip is batting at the 4th spot for the first time this season, but he has had no shortage of opportunities as a 4th hitter since his professional debut. His career batting average in the 4th spot stands at .254 (118 at-bats, 30 hits). Manager Lee explained, "Hwi-jip is hitting many home runs right now, so we moved him to the 4th spot. While his batting average has dipped slightly, he is handling breaking balls well. He is generating extra-base hits when facing breaking balls or pitches close to the body during his swing. He tends to make outs on pitches away from the body, but he is not missing those that come in as mistakes and is hitting them well. Clearly, the pitches he is targeting are being converted into extra-base hits."

Kim Hwi-jip's performance this season includes a .243 batting average (115 at-bats, 28 hits), eight home runs, 26 RBIs, and 22 runs scored in 36 games. His on-base percentage of .365 and slugging percentage of .504 represent significant increases from last year's figures of .349 and .420, respectively. His OPS of 0.869 is the second-highest in the team lineup after Park Min-woo (0.883). While Park Min-woo is known for his high batting average and on-base percentage, Kim Hwi-jip stands out as the team's most powerful hitter.

The disappointing news is Lee Woo-seong's absence. Suffering a contusion to his left ulnar bone from a fast pitch by Jeon Young-jun during the SSG game on the 24th, he will not play in today's match either. Manager Lee stated, "He cannot move at all. He told me today that 'it doesn't feel good.' It seems there is pain even though his bones are not broken. There is significant swelling. Recovery might not be possible until Monday or Tuesday." He added, "The training staff indicated he might be okay by Wednesday, but we need to monitor the situation closely."

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*This content was translated by AI.