'Super-closer' Lee Ui-ri to appear if save situation arises today (21st)! Lee Beom-ho on "three consecutive starts..."

*This content was translated by AI.

As the second half of the season begins, 'left-handed closer' Lee Ui-ri (24), who has established himself as a key reliever for KIA Tigers, is on standby in the bullpen today (21st). However, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho (45) added that he will avoid forcing Lee Ui-ri into three consecutive starts whenever possible to protect his health and ensure long-term season management.

KIA manager Lee Beom-ho met with on-site reporters ahead of the Kiwoom Heroes match scheduled for the 21st at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. Regarding the deployment plan for closer Lee Ui-ri, who rested the previous day (20th), he stated, "He will pitch if a save situation arises today," and added, "We plan to entrust him with the role of cleanly closing out one inning in games where the team is winning." He further noted, "If he ends up pitching on consecutive days today and tomorrow, we intend to give him rest for Sunday's game."

Lee Ui-ri's transition to closer has proven to be a brilliant move for KIA. After recording his first save of the season in the Samsung Lions match on the 11th, Lee Ui-ri has now gone six consecutive games without allowing a single run. Notably, he has accumulated four saves since August, firmly securing the team's late-inning defense.

While Lee Ui-ri has been protecting the bullpen with powerful pitching immediately after taking over the closer role, his management regarding consecutive starts is extremely strict. In particular, when reporters asked about the possibility of three consecutive starts, Manager Lee Beom-ho firmly shook his head.

Manager Lee explained, "There is currently no situation requiring him to pitch on three consecutive days. While an unavoidable situation might arise during truly critical moments late in the season, we intend to avoid it whenever possible." He added, "It has been about a year since he underwent surgery. Even if he feels fine, we must carefully monitor his physical condition." This reflects his cautious stance that even when pitch counts are low (under 10 pitches), he will thoroughly check Lee Ui-ri's condition before making any decisions.

For Lee Ui-ri, who has primarily served as a starting pitcher since his career debut in the 2021 season, consecutive starts represent a new challenge. Manager Lee emphasized, "He was a pitcher who threw over 100 innings as a starter, so while the cumulative inning burden this season is relatively light, pitching on consecutive days from the bullpen is an area he has never experienced before." He added, "The pitching coach and training staff will closely monitor Lee Ui-ri's arm condition and fatigue levels to ensure he is managed thoroughly without overexertion."

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*This content was translated by AI.