'AG Call-Up': Which Team Is Most Disadvantaged? Doosan 1st, KIA 2nd; Leaders Samsung and KT Are 'Similar'

*This content was translated by AI.

The baseball players for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (AG) national team will assemble on the 14th. They may be unable to participate in KBO League games for up to two weeks, from their departure until their scheduled return after the gold medal match (on the 27th), which is set for the 28th.

Some teams will lose starting pitchers or closers, while others will miss their leadoff or cleanup hitters. Opinions are divided on whether the AG assembly period (14th–28th) will be advantageous or disadvantageous for each team.

There is no definitive answer, and many variables exist. However, we can estimate each team's gains and losses by using 'WAR (Wins Above Replacement·Contribution to Wins Over a Replacement Player)', one of the most representative indicators for evaluating players in modern baseball.

Simply put, WAR represents 'how much a specific player contributes to team victories compared to an average player.' For example, a player with a WAR of 3 contributed to three of the team's wins.

Although there are slight differences depending on the calculation formula, WAR is determined by comprehensively evaluating various stats beyond simple batting average, home runs, RBIs, or win-loss records and ERA, including defensive performance and pitching details. Considering that Austin (LG Twins·7.77) leads among position players and Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears·5.45) leads among pitchers in the KBO League as of the 8th this season, this indicator is reasonably convincing.

Based on WAR, Doosan is expected to suffer the greatest loss due to AG call-ups. Three players will be absent: starting pitchers Kwak Bin and Choi Min-seok (3.27), who ranks second among domestic pitchers in WAR, and infielder Park Jun-soon (2.97). Their combined WAR totals 11.69, the highest among all 10 teams. For Doosan, which has been fighting for third place and now needs to secure fifth, this creates a significant gap.

Next is KIA Tigers. They will lose a combined WAR of 9.83, including position player WAR leader Kim Do-young (6.40), Park Jae-hyun (2.39), and Sung Young-tak (1.04). This is an unfavorable condition for KIA, which is competing with LG Twins for third place.

What about Samsung Lions and KT Wiz, who are in a fierce battle for first place? In terms of positions, Samsung loses one pitcher (Bae Chan-seung) and two position players (Lee Jae-hyun, Kim Ji-chan), while KT loses three pitchers only (Park Young-hyun, So Hyoung-jun, Oh Won-seok). However, based on the combined WAR of each player, Samsung totals 5.51 and KT totals 5.11, showing little difference.

In contrast, LG, which is eyeing the lead, is expected to suffer relatively minor losses, as the combined WAR of Kim Young-woo and Moon Bo-kyung is only 2.00. NC Dinos also stands out: even with just one player called up (Kim Ju-won, 4.06), their team's combined WAR ranking remains seventh.

The number of games each team plays during the AG national team assembly period could also be a variable. NC has the most with 12 games, while Kiwoom Heroes has the fewest with six. KT, Hanwha Eagles, and Lotte Giants also have many games, with 10 each.

Managers of each team have long conducted various experiments to prepare for the absence of players from the AG Gi Gan (CEO) team. Let us watch with interest how this AG will affect teams in tight standings races where every game result is critical.

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*This content was translated by AI.