'Why did Yuto come out again in the ninth?' Kiwoom manager changes his tune! Reveals why Won Jong-hyun appeared first in the eighth inning!

*This content was translated by AI.

On the previous day (the 22nd), Kiwoom Heroes' bullpen usage order was flipped once again. Veteran Won Jong-hyun (39), who had been assigned the closer role, entered first in the eighth inning while Kanakubo Yuto (27) followed to support him. Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin (53) then explained the reasoning behind this decision. While adjustments may be made depending on the situation, he re-emphasized that the basic principle remains: Won Jong-hyun is designated as the primary closer.

Ahead of the Kia Tigers game scheduled for the 23rd at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Manager Seol addressed StarNews' inquiry about why Won Jong-hyun was deployed early in the eighth inning. He explained that it was a strategic decision based on batter matchups and player conditioning. This clarification came despite Kiwoom having previously announced before the game on the 21st that Won Jong-hyun would serve as the closer and Yuto as the setup man, prompting further explanation for the change in plans.

When asked by StarNews whether Won Jong-hyun could appear first depending on opposing batters, Seol stated: "Won Jong-hyun's recent condition has been somewhat down, so we aimed to have him pitch more comfortably against lower-order hitters who pose less pressure." He added, "We had already informed the players that if starting pitcher An Woo-jin holds the opposition scoreless through seven innings, Won Jong-hyun would enter in the eighth inning."

He further reiterated that bullpen management will continue to be flexible according to game situations. Manager Seol Jong-jin said, "We plan to use Yuto, who has the best control on the team, to shut down critical moments or high-pressure situations decisively, while adjusting Won Jong-hyun's appearance in the ninth inning based on score margins and game conditions." This indicates a tailored approach: when leading comfortably, they may bring in Won Jong-hyun earlier and hold Yuto for later.

Regarding the reason for struggling slightly after allowing one run while holding a 3-0 lead on the previous day (the 22nd), Seol pointed to pitch selection issues. On Yuto, he noted: "He was trying too hard for strikeouts, which led to inconsistent control of his breaking balls after the four-seam fastball." He added, "We will discuss and coordinate again with Yuto regarding pitch sequencing and approach strategies."

Meanwhile, on the upcoming implementation of expanded rosters starting on the 25th, Seol stated: "We plan to call up one or two pitchers to bolster our tired bullpen." He further explained, "We will make final decisions after confirming the status of Im Byung-wook and Hiyura, who are recovering from injuries, by Tuesday just before the next series begins."

Meanwhile, aiming for a second consecutive win, Kiwoom set its starting lineup against Kia's starter James Neale as follows: Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Choo Jae-hyun (left fielder), Davison (first baseman), An Chi-hong (second baseman), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Kim Keun-hee (catcher), Park Chan-hyuk (right fielder), Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop), and Park Ju-hong (center fielder). Seo Geon-chang moved from second base to designated hitter for physical management. Kiwoom's starting pitcher is Jeon Jun-pyo.

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*This content was translated by AI.