"Resting for three days and then waiting in the bullpen is only natural": Manager Ahn Gang-cheol breaks into a hearty laugh at ace's heroic 102-pitch complete game [Suwon on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) could not hide his satisfaction with ace Ko Young-pyo's (35) complete game victory. At the same time, he also foreshadowed an all-out effort in the final stretch of the season. He even left open the scenario of Ko Young-pyo, who threw a 102-pitch complete game, resting for just three days before waiting in the bullpen again.

KT announced its starting lineup for the home game against the Lotte Giants on the 4th at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

The starting lineup consisted of Choi Won-jun (center fielder) - Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman) - Ahn Hyeon-min (right fielder) - Sam Hilliard (left fielder) - Jang Seong-woo (designated hitter) - Kim Sang-su (second baseman) - Heo Kyung-min (third baseman) - Han Seung-taek (catcher) - Jang Jun-won (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Bae Jae-sung.

The topic of conversation before the game was undoubtedly Ko Young-pyo's complete game victory on the previous day (the 3rd). In the game against Lotte in Suwon on the 3rd, Ko Young-pyo threw 102 pitches over nine innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out seven for a scoreless performance, leading KT to a 5-0 victory. It was his sixth career complete game win and his first in 531 days since facing the Gocheok Kiwoom Heroes on April 20 of last year.

He mixed in 47 sinker fastballs, 44 changeups, and 11 sweepers. In the second inning with two outs and runners on first and second, he escaped a jam thanks to Kim Hyun-soo's fine defensive play. In the ninth inning, after allowing consecutive hits to Na Seung-yeop and Han Dong-hee to face two outs with runners on first and second, he struck out Ko Seung-min with three changeups to end the game himself.

The first reason Manager Lee cited for the complete game was "efficiency." Manager Lee said, "When we look at (Ko) Young-pyo or (So) Hyeong-jun, we always say 'get them to hit it quickly and put them out.' If he gets a lot of strikeouts early on, we say 'we're in big trouble today.'" He explained, "Yesterday, he started getting strikeouts from the fifth or sixth inning. There were only about two in the early innings. So his pitch count was managed well."

He also did not overlook defensive help. Manager Lee said, "The defense played well yesterday. There were many fine plays. To throw a complete game, that kind of thing has to happen." He added, "In the second half, there were several three-pitch strikeouts, so the pitch count was also good."

Containing Victor Reyes, the core of the Lotte lineup, was also decisive. Manager Lee said, "Containing Reyes well was the finishing blow. When Reyes reached first base just once, it was because Na Seung-yeop got a hit, but we stopped that well too, which made the complete game possible." He recalled, "I threw a changeup in the first inning and saw it result in a grounder, so I thought 'the ball is good today. Let's go for it.'"

What drew more attention than the complete game was what came after. Ko Young-pyo stated that it is not the time to worry about pitch counts or rest days, and expressed his readiness to take the mound as a relief pitcher in the game against the Samsung Lions on the 7th if necessary. It was a will to put the team before himself.

The manager could not hide a pleased smile at the ace's fighting spirit. It was an answer befitting Manager Lee, who recorded 67 complete game wins and 18 complete game shutouts out of his 152 career wins during his playing days.

Regarding the possibility of Ko Young-pyo waiting in the bullpen, Manager Lee said, "Of course he should do it," adding, "If we win after the game ends, we can rest for a month (until the Korea Series). If the winning pitcher title is not decided, I think he will pitch after resting for four days. Not doing that would be stupid. After playing the whole year, are we just going to let it pass?" He said with a laugh.

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*This content was translated by AI.