'Strep throat' derails Na Gyun-an's start → Rookie makes 149 km/h debut in first division! Lotte lineup changes only at third base... Noh Jin-hyuk replaced by Son Ho-young [Incheon on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lotte Giants unexpectedly named rookie Kim Han-gyeol (20) as the starting pitcher due to Na Gyun-an's (28) sudden injury.

On the 12th, Lotte announced its starting lineup for the away game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

Lotte's lineup that day featured Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Go Seung-min (second baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). The starting pitcher was Kim Han-gyeol.

SSG countered with a lineup of Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Oh Tae-gon (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Bly Madris (left fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and An Sang-hyun (third baseman). Their starting pitcher was Kim Min-jun.

Just before the game, Lotte faced a sudden blow as its starting pitcher changed. Na Gyun-an (28), originally scheduled to start, developed symptoms of strep throat in his throat and could not take the mound.

Na Gyun-an had been performing well this season with 19 games, 5 wins, 9 losses, an ERA of 4.14, and 108⅔ innings pitched with 97 strikeouts, earning recognition as a potential second starter after the summer heat break.

However, due to an unexpected injury, his appearance was canceled, giving the opportunity to rookie Kim Han-gyeol (20). Kim graduated from Myeongryang Elementary School (Gwangmyeong Little), Seongnam Middle School, and Seongnam High School before joining Lotte as a right-handed pitcher selected in the sixth round, 54th overall, of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft. His strengths include a fastball reaching up to 149 km/h and a high-value splitter. In the Futures League, he recorded 1 win, 2 losses, an ERA of 4.15, and 27 strikeouts in 26 innings over 11 games, showing promise.

Lotte, which lost the previous day (11th) with scattered six hits, made no major changes to its lineup except for third base, where Noh Jin-hyuk was replaced by Son Ho-young. Son has played 64 games this season with a batting average of 0.212 (33 hits in 156 at-bats), four home runs, 17 RBIs, and 19 runs scored, posting an on-base percentage of 0.277 and a slugging percentage of 0.346. Son is considered by Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung as a potential regular third baseman. Earlier, Manager Kim stated, "The ideal scenario would be for Son Ho-young to secure the third base position, but he hasn't fully established himself yet."

Meanwhile, Lotte removed catcher Park Geon-woo from its first division roster and added left-handed pitcher Park Se-jin to strengthen its bullpen.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original