'First-pitch walk → Immediate removal': Samsung's Miyaji, ultimately removed from first-division roster... Nine players including Kiwoom Heroes' Hiura with 'shoulder pain' sent to minor league

*This content was translated by AI.

Miyaji Yura (27), who once bolstered the Samsung Lions bullpen with exceptional performances like a rare gem, has disappeared from the first-division roster due to control issues.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) released its registration status on the 27th, a day without games. A total of nine players were removed from the first-division roster.

The nine include Samsung pitcher Miyaji; Kiwoom Heroes infielders Hiura and Choi Jae-young; Hanwha Eagles infielder Hwang Young-mok and pitcher Lee Gyo-hoon; LG Twins pitcher Choi Ji-myung; NC Dinos pitcher Kim Tae-gyeong and infielder Han Jae-hwan; and Lotte Giants infielder Lee Ho-jun.

Miyaji, who joined Samsung as an Asian quota pitcher with a fearsome fastball reaching up to 155 km/h, appeared to strengthen the Samsung mound by recording three holds through April but failed to add any more holds afterward.

In 36 games over 30⅔ innings, he posted a record of 1 loss and 3 holds, with an ERA of 5.87, batting average against of 0.234, but a high WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.60.

Control problems have not been easily resolved. Although he spent time in the Futures League, his pitches continued to head toward batters' heads, raising concerns. During the Doosan Bears game at Jamsil Stadium on the 26th, he appeared in the bottom of the eighth inning and immediately threw a pitch aimed at Kang Seung-ho's head from the first ball.

Fortunately, the ball did not directly strike his head, avoiding an ejection for a headshot, but the Samsung bench replaced Miyaji immediately after just one pitch. The following day, Miyaji disappeared from the first-division roster. While it cannot be definitively stated that this means replacing the Asian quota pitcher, it appears the team judged he was not in a condition to be utilized in the first division at least for now.

Kiwoom Heroes also raised an alarm. With ace Raul Alcantara and Kanakubo Yuto sidelined due to injuries, Keiston Hiura has also disappeared from the first-division roster due to a shoulder injury. He complained of shoulder pain after colliding with the fence during defense in the top of the 10th inning at Gocheok Samsung on the 23rd and was ultimately removed from the roster.

Hiura contributed significantly to Kiwoom's lineup with a batting average of 0.263 (42 hits in 160 at-bats), 7 home runs, 27 RBIs, 22 runs scored, an on-base percentage of 0.353, a slugging percentage of 0.419, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.772, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of 0.311 over 41 games. Given that Kiwoom was on an upward trajectory in the second half with 6 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, his absence is particularly painful.

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*This content was translated by AI.