'Top of the pack battle at its peak': Does Samsung have bullpen reinforcements? Park Jin-man: "No players seem ready to return → Baek Jeong-hyun is likely the fastest, but..."

*This content was translated by AI.

As the battle for the top spot in the regular season reaches its peak, Samsung Lions is facing a difficult situation in managing its pitching staff. The harsh reality is that they cannot expect any 'injury-recovery reinforcements' to relieve their fatigued bullpen for the foreseeable future.

Park Jin-man (50), manager of the Samsung Lions, drew a clear line when asked about the possibility of pitchers currently recovering from injuries returning during the regular season. Speaking to reporters ahead of the home game against KIA Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 8th (a 6-4 victory), he let out a deep sigh and stated firmly: "I don't think any of the players currently recovering from injuries will be able to return before the end of the regular season."

Like most teams, Samsung, which is currently in first place with a 1.5-game lead over second-place KT Wiz ahead of their game on the 9th, has placed excessive strain on its bullpen pitchers due to consecutive appearances and frequent outings. This is why there was high hope that injured players building up their form in the Futures League (minor league) would join the first division near the end of the regular season to relieve some burden by pitching even one or two innings.

However, the situation is not easy. Especially Yook Seon-yeop (21), a right-handed pitcher who had gone scoreless in all six spring training games held before the season, has been halted. Manager Park Jin-man explained regarding Yook: "He was preparing for his return to actual competition by throwing pitches but recently experienced renewed pain and discomfort in his flexor muscles, so he has stopped pitching." He added, "According to hospital examinations, he needs at least two weeks of complete rest." Considering that he must go through a build-up process again after the two-week rest, returning during the regular season is virtually impossible.

The situation is similar for other rehabilitation candidates. Manager Park noted: "Choi Ji-kwang is in the same boat, and so are Kim Mu-shin and Lee Jae-hee; it will be difficult for them to return to the first division before the end of the regular season." The resource with the earliest expected return date is veteran left-hander Baek Jeong-hyun. However, even Baek Jeong-hyun holds the stance that an early, premature return is not feasible. Manager Park maintained a cautious attitude, stating: "Baek Jeong-hyun is somewhat faster than the other players, but we need to closely monitor his pain levels and his performance on the mound." This was interpreted as meaning that significant bullpen reinforcements during the remaining games are virtually impossible, approaching 'zero.'

Furthermore, Samsung's bullpen faces additional power losses. Baek Chan-seung, a 'top rookie left-hander' who performed admirably in Samsung's bullpen this season, has been called up to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team. Having to leave one of the key pillars of their left-handed reliable relievers during the most intense period of the season standings race is a painful blow for Samsung. To make matters worse, veteran first-division bullpen pitcher Woo Seung-hyun was recently removed from the first-division roster due to acute gallbladder symptoms while on an away trip to Jamsil.

There is some good news that offers relief: the scheduled rest day on the 10th, the day after the game against KT on the 9th. Manager Park Jin-man emphasized: "Since there are no games, we will have the opportunity to use all our reliable relievers over two consecutive days." He added, "Even if the score is close or we are trailing, we will boldly deploy pitchers who can take on the role of reliable relievers and fight with full force." In fact, during the game against KIA on the 8th, Kim Jae-yun had already appeared in the 9th inning despite a 6-2 lead and no save situation.

Samsung is in first place but lacks bullpen reinforcements and faces the variable of players being called up to the national team. The remaining approximately 20 games until the end of the regular season will have to be endured solely through the resilience and focus of the currently available resources. It remains quite intriguing whether Samsung, aiming for the highest position, can succeed in its holding strategy.

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*This content was translated by AI.