"Afraid he might get hurt if left in too long": 20-year-old LG rookie replaced early after 1⅔ innings, showing the manager's consideration... Park Si-won and Kim Yun-sik to continue starting [Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins pitching prospects Kim Yun-sik (26) and Park Si-won (20) will continue to receive opportunities as starting pitchers for the foreseeable future.

On the 28th, after the LG-Lotte game in Busan was canceled due to rain, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop firmly stated, "Park Si-won will continue to start."

Park Si-won is a right-handed pitcher who graduated from Haeundae Little League, Centum Middle School, and Gyeongnam High School before being selected by LG in the 6th round (60th overall) of the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft. During his time at Gyeongnam High, he was praised for his powerful fastball and sharp slider, which stood out despite his sturdy build of 193 cm and 93 kg. Park's fastball RPM (revolutions per minute) exceeds 2,500.

However, concerns arose among scouts due to his inconsistent pitching balance and poor control. Nevertheless, LG scouts focused on his stamina, noting that he could still throw pitches exceeding 150 km/h even after five innings and 70 throws.

Since the game on the 15th, he has actively taken on starting roles, posting positive results with one run allowed in four innings and one run in three innings across two games, striking out eight batters total.

The previous day's (27) match against Jamsil NC Dinos highlighted his weaknesses. The clear distinction between balls and strikes made him an easy target for NC hitters. As he repeatedly threw pitches aimed at the strike zone that ended up outside, he collapsed over 1⅔ innings without recording a single strikeout or walk, allowing eight hits and six runs.

He threw only 51 pitches and could have managed through the second inning, but the manager decided to replace him with Lee Jeong-yong. Before the third offensive inning, the team began systematically removing key position players, effectively conceding defeat.

In response, Manager Yeom stated, "I thought leaving (Park) Si-won in longer would affect his performance in the next game. Honestly, if things had gone slightly better, we would have kept him in to gain more experience. But I feared it might end up hurting him. We won't dwell on negative stories; we'll focus only on positive ones."

This same confidence extends to left-handed pitcher Kim Yun-sik. Song Seung-gi (24), who was part of the existing starting rotation, was removed from the first-team roster due to elbow pain the previous day, creating an opening for Kim Yun-sik to step in. Although the rain-cancelled game on the 29th saw Carlos KARA replace Kim as the scheduled starter, Kim is expected to continue receiving starting opportunities going forward.

Kim Yun-sik, who graduated from Gwangju Jinheung High School, was selected by LG with the third overall pick in the second round of the 2020 KBO Rookie Draft. In 2023, he alternated between starting and relief roles across 17 games, recording six wins, four losses, and a 4.22 ERA, contributing to the team's first integrated championship in 29 years.

Although he returned to the first team after being released from camp in May this year, overcoming a two-year competitive gap proved difficult. In 27 games, he went winless with one loss and five holds, posting a 4.97 ERA. He struggled with control, issuing 24 walks or hit-by-pitches (21 walks and three hit-by-pitches) over 29 innings, leading to two stints in the minor league.

Manager Yeom said, "(Song Seung-gi's spot will be filled by) Kim Yun-sik continuing to start. If he had pitched today, he would have thrown around 60–70 pitches. He has also thrown close to 100 pitches in three outings at the minor league level." He added, "I'm unsure whether to give (Park) Si-won an extra day of rest or let him start normally. Since Yun-sik rested, he could take Si-won's spot, so we are considering all options."

Recently, LG has suffered consistent heavy defeats due to their chasing team failing to perform effectively. The previous day, Lee Jeong-yong, who entered in relief during the bottom of the second inning with two outs and a runner on first base while trailing 2-5, collapsed over 2⅓ innings allowing four runs, resulting in a double-digit loss margin. In response, Manager Yeom apologized, saying, "I am sorry to the fans who came to watch."

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*This content was translated by AI.