'36.6°C Heatwave': Is Baseball in Incheon Proceeding as Scheduled? Team Commander: "Avoid Sunlight as Much as Possible" → SSG Players Voluntarily Conduct Outdoor Training [Incheon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Two professional baseball games scheduled to be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium and Gwangju-Kia Champions Field were cancelled due to extreme heat. While no special updates have emerged yet from Incheon, Busan, and Daegu, team commanders are expressing deep concern over the intense heat.

The 10th match of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season between SSG Landers and LG Twins is set to take place at SSG Landers Field in Incheon starting at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th.

Earlier, a severe heatwave warning was issued nationwide, with temperatures reaching as high as 38°C. As a result, the games at Jamsil Baseball Stadium (Doosan Bears vs. NC Dinos) and Gwangju-Kia Champions Field (KIA Tigers vs. KT Wiz), scheduled for 12:46 p.m., were cancelled early due to heat concerns. Both locations had active severe heatwave warnings, and under KBO's new regulations regarding extreme heat, decisions on game cancellations could be made before 1 p.m.

However, it appears highly likely that games in the remaining three venues will proceed as scheduled. Although temperatures near SSG Landers Field reached up to 36.6°C, SSG players still appeared at the stadium for training. Under a heatwave warning (defined as daily maximum apparent temperature of 35°C or higher sustained for two consecutive days), game start times can be delayed by up to one hour. In cases of a heat advisory (daily maximum apparent temperature of 33°C or higher sustained for two consecutive days), games proceed normally.

SSG manager Lee Sung-yong (55) told reporters, "The weather is extremely hot. I instructed the coaching staff to make things as comfortable as possible and avoid sunlight exposure if at all feasible, but they reported that almost everyone still showed up for training." He added, "I believe this will help them focus as much as possible on the game."

On this day, SSG fielded its starting lineup with Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Oh Tae-gon (left fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Ahn Sang-hyun (third baseman), and Im Geun-woo (right fielder). Rookie Kim Min-jun will make his starting appearance.

Kim Min-jun, following the rotation schedule, will take four days of rest after today's game and is scheduled to start again in the away match against NC Dinos on the 9th.

Although he joined the rotation in June due to shoulder pain, Kim has already secured four wins (two losses), achieved two consecutive quality starts, and won two straight games.

Manager Lee emphasized that Kim will pitch without interruption until the end of the season. "Kim Min-jun will start every game through the end of the season, including on Sundays. We have calculated his innings carefully," he said. "For today's game, we are aiming for under 90 pitches."

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*This content was translated by AI.