Samsung's ace bullpen suddenly vanished! Park Jin-man: "Giving Sato a crucial role in this good momentum"

*This content was translated by AI.

As the Samsung Lions bullpen, a key resource in their fierce battle for first place, suddenly left the lineup. Right-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun (35), who had reliably served as a setup man primarily before closer Kim Jae-yun and guarded the mound with steady performance, was removed from the first-division roster due to acute back pain. Although this situation could have triggered an emergency in managing the late-inning bullpen, Samsung manager Park Jin-man (50) remained unfazed. This is partly because right-handed pitcher Sato (28), who has recently rebounded perfectly with five consecutive scoreless outings over the last five games, has emerged.

Manager Park Jin-man explained the reason for removing right-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun from the roster on the day of the home game against KIA Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 8th during a meeting with reporters.

The cause was not merely a matter of managing physical workload but acute back pain. Manager Park stated, "During the previous away game at Jamsil, he developed back pain," and added, "He took rest on Sunday, came down to Daegu for acupuncture treatment, but reportedly his symptoms worsened slightly."

Continuing, Manager Park revealed the reasoning behind his decision: "We received a report from the training department that it would be impossible for him to pitch normally for at least three to four days. Given that, we decided it was better to clearly exclude him from the roster, fully resolve the pain, and properly rebuild his body before returning."

Although an ace pitcher had been removed, Manager Park immediately chose not to call up a replacement but instead promoted outfielder Kim Hyun-jun from the Futures League, who had shown good batting form. This decision was made possible by the firm calculation and confidence in managing bullpen depth. At the center of this calculation stands Sato, who has now settled into a stable rhythm.

Sato, who initially struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar stage upon joining the KBO League, is now continuing with dazzling performances. He has recorded five consecutive scoreless outings over the last five games, completely regaining his characteristic heavy velocity and sharp control. Gaining confidence on the mound that overwhelms batters, he has received Manager Park Jin-man's clear endorsement. In the previous three-game series against LG over the weekend, he secured saves and holds.

Manager Park expressed strong trust in Sato. He stated, "At first, Sato seemed to lose some confidence due to league adaptation issues and allowing consecutive hits, but as he gradually started throwing his own pitches, he found stability and composure on the mound," and added, "His momentum is very good, having recorded five consecutive scoreless outings recently. In particular, not only his velocity but also the power behind the ball has completely changed." He did not hold back his praise.

Continuing, Manager Park emphasized, "Currently, Sato has firmly established himself as one of our team's surefire ace bullpen cards, ready to take responsibility in crisis situations regardless of whether it is a hold or save situation. Although Lee Seung-hyun's absence is significant, we will entrust the more important role to Sato, who is riding good momentum, to securely guard the late-inning back door."

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*This content was translated by AI.