'Asia Quota Only for Bullpen': Why Replace Manager Lee Kang-cheol? Despite Losing Two National Team Starters, He Stands Firm: "If We Continue This Way, Young Players Will Have No Room to Play"

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) has expressed caution regarding the use of 'starting Asia quota' players, even amid gaps in the starting rotation caused by national team call-ups. This is to protect Korean baseball prospects.

Ahead of the Jamsil LG Twins game on the 19th, Manager Lee emphasized the importance of starting pitchers: "It's difficult with only two starters. If we play without starters and rely on the bullpen from the third inning every day, what happens? Ultimately, starters must at least pitch five innings."

This season in the KBO League, the performance of starting rotations has been mixed. As the market for foreign pitchers dried up, many teams made numerous changes. Success varied depending on how strong each team's domestic pitching staff was. KT fell into the favorable category. KT had two national team pitchers, Ko Young-pyo (35) and So Hyoung-jun (25), who combined for 15 wins. Although all foreign pitchers were replaced, KT still outperformed other teams.

KT is soon facing a crisis in its starting rotation. So Hyoung-jun and Oh Won-seok (25) are set to be called up alongside Park Young-hyun (23) for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team. For KT, which is engaged in a fierce battle for first place with no gap from second-place Samsung Lions, this loss will be devastating.

Due to frequent international tournaments and an unyielding foreign pitcher market, some have suggested naturally seeking Asia quota players as starters next year. Starting this year, the KBO has implemented the Asia quota for players from countries affiliated with the Asian Baseball Federation (BFA) or holding Australian nationality who played in the previous or current year's Asian league. Each team can sign up to one player, with no position restrictions. This is a power-up card that can be used separately from the existing three foreign pitchers.

In the KBO League reality where pitchers are scarce, using an Asia quota player as a starter is the most attractive option. If one starter can reliably shoulder five to six innings, bullpen usage can be significantly reduced. No one feels this reality more acutely than Manager Lee himself. When starters collapse early, the burden falls directly on the bullpen. Not only the top relievers but also those in chase roles must enter earlier, and as such games repeat, the entire pitching staff will inevitably tire by the latter half of the season.

Manager Lee did not deny the field's need to utilize Asia quota players as starters. However, his focus extended beyond the immediate standings battle to a more distant horizon. He was primarily concerned about securing future opportunities for young domestic pitchers.

He stated, "We also have two starters leaving soon, and if we don't win gold this time, one of them will go to the military, creating another gap. But regardless of whether our team has pitchers or not, shouldn't we avoid using Asia quota players as starters for the sake of young players?" He continued, "In the past, 90% of foreign batters were first basemen, so young players didn't play first base. Similarly, if we fill all starting positions with foreign pitchers, who would want to become a pitcher?"

What Manager Lee worries about is not the choice of a specific team or the immediate operation of the system. It is natural for every team to build the strongest possible roster within the given rules. Managers must also use the best players available to win.

The problem arises when such choices are repeated over the long term. Starting pitchers do not suddenly become complete overnight. A young pitcher must first get a chance to start in the first division, gradually increase their pitch count from three to five innings, and repeat failures and successes before they can grow into a starter capable of carrying an entire season.

If these opportunities shrink, the pool of starting resources available for Korean baseball in the future could also narrow. This was the experience-based insight of a renowned pitching coach who had developed outstanding pitchers. During his playing days, Manager Lee served as a starting pitcher for the Haitai TaLee Geo-jeu-reul (CEO) team and guarded the mound for many years. Even after becoming a coach, he witnessed the growth processes of countless young pitchers.

While KT also needs starters, the manager repeatedly emphasized that they cannot ignore the issue of diminishing opportunities for young domestic pitchers. For young pitchers entering professional baseball, starting positions should be something they can dream of achieving. Only then will pitchers emerge in amateur leagues aiming to become starters, and only then will future national team candidates appear in the professional ranks.

Having one additional strong foreign starter certainly helps win today's game. However, if we consider who will stand on Korea's starting mound five or ten years from now, this is undoubtedly a matter for serious consideration. Manager Lee raised his voice: "Didn't you start playing baseball not to become an intermediate pitcher? In that regard, I am opposed to using Asia quota players as starters. If we continue this way, young players will have no room to play."

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*This content was translated by AI.