'Batting average of 0.223 against right-handers': Son Ah-seop starts at right field in the seventh spot, Manager Kim Won-hyeong says "Hatch struggles against left-handed batters"... Starting lineup changed [Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Ah-seop (38, Doosan Bears) has secured another starting opportunity. Although he has not shown significant impact since joining the team, the organization believes he remains valuable. Today, he faces a challenge against an opposing starter who is weak against left-handed hitters.

Son Ah-seop will start at right field and bat seventh in the visiting game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 30th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League schedule.

While Kim Daehyun has been consistently playing recently, Doosan's starting lineup today is Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Yunion Severino (designated hitter), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), Son Ah-seop (right fielder), Kang Seung-ho (first baseman), and Jung Soobin (center fielder). Choi Min-seok will take the mound as the starting pitcher.

After joining Doosan midway through this season, Son has appeared in 44 games with a batting average of 0.245 (35 hits in 143 at-bats), on-base percentage of 0.302, slugging percentage of 0.294, and OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.596, showing room for improvement, but he has seized this opportunity today.

Manager Kim Won-hyeong explained, "He needs to play. Statistically, Son Ah-seop's performance isn't ideal, and while Kim Daehyun has played in several games, we're not thinking about distributing playing time equally. However, since the opposing pitcher Hatch is weak against left-handed batters, we decided to start Son."

Son has a batting average of 0.223 against right-handed pitchers, which is lower than the 0.310 he posted against left-handers. However, this decision factored in that opposing starter Thomas Hatch allows a batting average against of as high as 0.372 to left-handed batters.

The conversation also touched on Choi Min-seok, who is aiming for his first career 10-win season. Choi has been Doosan's top performer this year with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses in 18 games, posting an ERA of 2.49 and enjoying a flawless season overall. However, he has taken only one loss in two recent starts in the second half. Notably, during the game against Samsung Lions on the 24th, he endured his worst performance of the season, allowing 10 runs (four earned) over just 2⅔ innings.

Manager Kim Won-hyeong remarked, "I've reached nine wins three times. Looking back, I may have been overly ambitious. I don't think I ever chased the 10th-win mark with such intensity." He added, "If I could go back now, I'd do it like a madman. Reaching 10 wins is an excellent achievement. I don't think much about the nine-win threshold."

He continued, "If players fail to overcome that hurdle, discussions about the nine-win mark will arise, and from the player's perspective, that becomes a difficult psychological barrier. Some players achieve it easily but may repeat failures. The number 10 is definitely approaching, so I hope they don't become overly fixated on it."

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*This content was translated by AI.