*This content was translated by AI.
The vacancy left by Moon Bo-kyung (26), who has been selected for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, will initially be filled by Cheon Seong-ho (29) and Gu Bon-hyuk (29). The "third baseman card" of Moon Jung-bin (23, both with LG Twins), whose bat has been hot recently, was temporarily pushed down in priority.
LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) stated on the 25th ahead of the Jamsil NC Dinos game that to fill Moon Bo-kyung's absence, "we will start with Gu Bon-hyuk and Cheon Seong-ho. We've tried using Jung-bin regularly, but he may find it a bit difficult this year. We plan to use him more next year."
Moon Bo-kyung will be absent for about two weeks starting mid-September after being selected as a wild card for the upcoming Asian Games. According to the schedule released by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), 24 members of the national team's coaching staff and players will report to designated accommodations on September 14. They will conduct official training and practice games from September 15 to 17 at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome, then depart for Nagoya, Japan on the 18th.
After local adaptation training on the 19th and 20th, they will compete in group stage matches: against Taiwan on the 21st, Hong Kong on the 22nd, and Thailand on the 23rd. Depending on the results, they will play two Super Round games on the 25th and 26th, followed by the medal-deciding match on the 27th, returning home on the 28th.
This year, Moon Bo-kyung has struggled offensively in the regular season with a .254 batting average (72 hits in 284 at-bats), nine home runs, and 50 RBIs over 86 games, posting an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.751. However, he has been gradually improving his hitting form with a .333 batting average (13 hits in 39 at-bats) in August's 14 games. Considering his stable third base defense, he remains a resource that LG finds difficult to replace easily.
LG had also prepared alternatives since Moon Bo-kyung's selection for the national team was confirmed. Candidates included Gu Bon-hyuk and Cheon Seong-ho, who can play multiple infield positions, as well as Moon Jung-bin, whose offensive power stands out. In terms of offense alone, Moon Jung-bin, currently showing peak hitting form, is the most attractive option. He has led LG's lineup in the second half this season with a .283 batting average (53 hits in 187 at-bats), 15 home runs, and 47 RBIs over 60 games, posting an OPS of 0.962.
However, with the standings race intensifying, Manager Yeom's priority was defensive stability. Moon Jung-bin has played only 18 games (69 innings) at third base since his first-team debut last year. Although he received occasional opportunities this season over nine games and 43 innings, he recorded three errors, leading to evaluations that he still needs to build more consistency. Manager Yeom explained the area for improvement: "Jung-bin handles the ball well when he's not rushed, but if he tries too quickly, his throws aren't accurate."
In contrast, while Gu Bon-hyuk's offensive skills are relatively average, he boasts proven stability at third base. Since his debut in 2019, he has logged over 1,000 innings at the position and contributed to LG's Korean Series championship last year by playing various infield positions.
Cheon Seong-ho has also accumulated third base experience since his professional debut. This season alone, he played 258⅔ innings at third base, positioning him as an immediate option should Moon Bo-kyung be unavailable. For LG, which is in the midst of a tight standings race, choosing to reduce infield defensive variables over trying to boost offense during Moon's approximate two-week absence was the decision made.
This does not mean Moon Jung-bin's playing time will decrease. He has already established himself as one of LG's regular batters and is currently alternating between first base and designated hitter duties alongside Austin Dean. It is not necessary to place Moon at third base just because Moon Bo-kyung is absent in order to utilize his hitting ability.
The "third baseman Moon Jung-bin" project by LG has not ended. Rather than immediately assigning him to fill Moon Bo-kyung's spot this year, Manager Yeom plans to take more time to prepare him. Third base remains part of the future that LG envisions for Moon Jung-bin.
Manager Yeom stated, "Next year, we plan to have him play third base more frequently starting from spring training. Gu Bon-hyuk could get injured or need rest at times, so preparation must be done in advance." He further emphasized, "Jung-bin's value will increase if he can handle third base duties."
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*This content was translated by AI.
