Lotte's Na Gyun-an replaced on day of scheduled start due to sore throat symptoms... Rookie Kim Han-gyeol makes first-team debut against SSG in 6th round [Incheon field report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants pitcher Na Gyun-an (28) was replaced on the day of his scheduled start due to sudden onset of sore throat symptoms.

A Lotte club official stated ahead of the Incheon SSG Landers game on the 12th, "Na Gyun-an, who was scheduled to start today, has been replaced by rookie pitcher Kim Han-gyeol (20) due to sore throat symptoms. Na Gyun-an's condition will be monitored."

This season, Na Gyun-an has posted a record of 5 wins and 9 losses in 19 games with an ERA of 4.14 over 108⅔ innings and 97 strikeouts. After the summer heat break, he was confidently named as the second starter, but his appearance was postponed due to sudden injury.

The replacement is rookie right-handed pitcher Kim Han-gyeol (20). Kim graduated from Myeongmyung Elementary School (Gwangmyeong Little League), Seongnam Middle School, and Seongnam High School before joining the team as the 54th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft.

Standing at 193 cm tall and weighing 93 kg, he is evaluated as an attractive pitcher with a fastball reaching speeds up to 149 km/h. He also possesses a high-value splitter pitch, and his stamina is considered a strength that allows him to handle long innings.

In the Futures League, he recorded 1 win and 2 losses in 11 games with an ERA of 4.15 over 26 innings and 27 strikeouts, demonstrating potential. His appearance was initially expected against the Busan NC Dinos on the 14th. He was anticipated to make a temporary start in place of Kim Jin-wook (24), who had recently been placed on the injured list, but that timing has been brought forward slightly.

A Lotte club official explained, "Kim Han-gyeol showed clear growth in velocity, control, and splitter usage through training in the Futures League after being drafted."

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*This content was translated by AI.