'Ryu Ji-hyuk, the 'Invisible Man'': Top-ranked Samsung reveals lineup for KT match, where they are being closely chased! Park Seung-gyu and Kim Young-woong OUT → Kim Sung-yoon and Jeon Byeong-woo IN

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Samsung Lions infielder Ryu Ji-hyuk, who suffered a knee injury from a foul ball while at bat during the previous day's (8th) match against KIA Tigers, is set to return to full health and start. In the third base position for the crucial KT Wiz match that could determine the standings race, Jeon Byeong-woo will replace Kim Young-woong.

Ahead of their home game against KT in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 9th, Samsung announced its starting lineup.

On this day, Samsung arranged its batting order as follows: Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Diaz (first baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), and Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop).

The most notable change is Ryu Ji-hyuk's return to the starting lineup. Ryu Ji-hyuk set a personal record for his 1,200th career game appearance, the 132nd such milestone in KBO history, during the previous day's (8th) match against KIA. However, he was substituted after being hit by a foul ball on his left knee while batting in the bottom of the fourth inning. Although he complained of severe pain, raising concerns, it was confirmed to be a simple contusion, and he will start today as the fifth hitter and second baseman.

In addition, compared to the previous day's lineup, Kim Sung-yoon replaced Park Seung-gyu in right field, and Jeon Byeong-woo started at third base instead of regular starter Kim Young-woong. Foreign hitter Diaz, who was placed fifth in the batting order previously, has moved to seventh.

With the gap between the teams narrowing, both sides will face off with their native ace pitchers: Won Tae-in (Samsung) and Ko Young-pyo (KT) on the mound.

Samsung's starting pitcher Won Tae-in has appeared in 21 games this season, recording 7 wins, 6 losses, and an ERA of 4.26. While his overall performance this season has shown some inconsistency, he has been strong against KT, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.24 ERA in three appearances. For Samsung to gain momentum, it is essential for Won Tae-in to limit early runs and pitch around six innings.

Facing him is KT's starting pitcher Ko Young-pyo, who has recorded 10 wins, 6 losses, and an ERA of 4.00 in 23 games this season, anchoring the team's rotation. However, he struggled slightly against Samsung this season with a 1-1 record and a 4.50 ERA in two appearances. Leveraging his signature precise control and ability to induce ground balls, minimizing long hits from Samsung's lineup is expected to be key in today's game.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original