“They even benched Kim Ho-ryeong”: KIA Manager Lee Beom-ho’s Bold Gamble! Why Did He Start Seven Left-Handed Batters Instead of the Best Defensive Center Fielder? “Treating Today Like the Final Game” [Preliminary Playoffs 3 On-Site]

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KIA Tigers, who needed just one more win to advance to the Playoffs (PO) after two consecutive victories, threw down a bold gamble. The team excluded starting center fielder Kim Ho-ryeong (34) from the starting lineup and abruptly placed seven left-handed batters in the starting order.

KIA will face LG in the third game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Preliminary Playoffs (best-of-five series) at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 20th. After winning the first game on the 17th by a score of 5-1 and the second game on the 18th by a score of 6-3, KIA will advance to the Playoffs, where regular season runner-up Samsung Lions await, if they win today.

Today, KIA arranged their batting order as follows: Park Jeong-u (center fielder) - Park Jae-hyeon (left fielder) - Kim Do-young (third baseman) - Harold Castro (first baseman) - Na Seong-beom (right fielder) - Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter) - Han Jun-su (catcher) - Kim Gyu-seong (second baseman) - Ha Ju-seok (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Shiraoka Keisuke (25).

The most notable decision was the exclusion of Kim Ho-ryeong. Kim is a starting center fielder who recorded a .267 batting average, 140 hits, 13 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 141 regular season games this year. In this Preliminary Playoffs series as well, he started both the first and second games, anchoring KIA’s outfield defense. Given that his defense is at the highest level in KBO despite some inconsistency in his hitting, it seemed natural for him to be utilized in the postseason.

Yet Kim Ho-ryeong will start the third game on the bench. The reason lay in the difference in KARA Suko’s performance against left-handed and right-handed batters. In fact, KARA Suko showed a significant disparity this regular season, recording a .267 batting average against left-handed batters compared to .185 against right-handed batters. Considering these characteristics, the manager placed as many left-handed batters as possible in the lineup.

The manager met with reporters before the game and explained, “It seems KARA Suko has a difference when facing right-handed and left-handed batters. We considered that left-handed batters had been much more successful in attacking him.”

Another reason for excluding Kim Ho-ryeong was the use of pinch hitters in the latter half of the game. This plan also accounted for LG potentially deploying left-handed relief pitchers such as John Kennedy (32) and Son Ju-young (28) in the late innings. The manager stated, “While playing the first and second games, we realized we lacked a right-handed pinch hitter in scoring opportunities,” adding, “If Kennedy comes out or if it becomes a crucial situation, I plan to use Ho-ryeong as a pinch hitter.”

He continued, “I think today LG will try to close the game with Kennedy and Son Ju-young after KARA Suko. In searching for the most advantageous method, we are considering using left-handed batters first and then utilizing Kim Tae-gun or Kim Ho-ryeong as pinch hitters.”

The manager’s gamble extends to the mound as well. Although Shiraoka, who finished the regular season with a 4-5 record and a 4.75 ERA, will start the third game, the possibility of a bullpen day remains open. The manager emphasized, “I plan to manage today tightly, treating it like the first game of the postseason.” He added, “After checking how Shiraoka pitches in the first and second innings, if I feel a quick replacement is necessary, we will move immediately. I also told Shiraoka to pitch as if every inning from the first one is the final inning.”

He further stated, “If Shiraoka wobbles early on, we will consider a quick replacement and manage the game thinking today is the last game. We plan to use Lee Yi-ri, Kim Tae-hyung, Jung Hae-young, Sung Young-tak, and others to somehow maintain parity through the fifth inning. Conversely, if his pitching is good, we will keep him going.”

They have also prepared tailored bullpen usage. Specifically, when facing LG’s Park Hae-min (36), who has been hitting well in the Preliminary Playoffs, they are considering deploying Lee Yi-ri (24) instead of Gwak Do-gyu (22). The manager explained, “It is not that we want to make a change just because Do-gyu allowed a hit to Park Hae-min. Park Hae-min’s condition is so good that I am thinking of making a slight change with Lee Yi-ri.” He added, “In situations where other left-handed batters like Oh Ji-hwan come up, we can utilize Do-gyu. We will probably not face him against Park Hae-min unless necessary.”

On the offensive side, they expected Castro to perform well. It was also explained that Kim Do-young, who was hit by a pitch in the second game, is physically fine. The manager assessed, “The direction of our team’s scoring depends on how Castro hits behind Kim Do-young,” noting, “It seems his concentration has improved since entering the postseason.” He added, “Kim Do-young himself says there is no problem at all, and the training staff has not reported any particular issues either.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original