"I'm prepared to record up to eight outs." LG closer with neck injury, 31 saves, shares moving resolve... "I have to pitch tomorrow too! If we lose, it's over anyway" [On-site from Game 3 of the Wild Card Series]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

LG Twins closer Son Ju-young (28), who could not even guarantee his participation in the postseason due to a neck injury, has completed preparations to return to the mound. Although his physical condition is not yet at 100 percent, he is resolved to take responsibility for up to eight outs and pitch on consecutive days if necessary.

LG will face the KIA Tigers in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Wild Card Series (best-of-five) at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 20th. After losing Game 1 on the 17th by a score of 1-5 and Game 2 on the 18th by a score of 3-6, LG must win all three remaining games to advance to the Playoffs (PO). The team is also on a nine-game losing streak against KIA in recent matchups, including a seven-game losing streak during the regular season.

For such an LG team, Son Ju-young's return is welcome news. In this year's regular season, Son recorded one win, two losses, 31 saves, and an ERA of 3.22 across 47 games. He filled the void left by starting closer Yoo Young-chan (27) due to injury and took charge of LG's bullpen. Notably, he reached the 30th-save milestone for the first time in his career, contributing to the team's postseason berth.

However, just before the postseason began, he was hit with the bad news of a herniated disc in the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae. He was also excluded from the roster for the Wild Card Series against the Doosan Bears on the 14th. Initially, even the player himself could not be confident about his return. Speaking to reporters before that game, Son revealed, "I had thoughts like, 'My neck hurts, so maybe I have to rest at home again.' At first, I let go of everything and just rested."

However, as the pain gradually decreased, hope arose that he could play baseball again. He shuttled between Icheon and Seoul to undergo treatment and training in parallel, eventually returning to the Wild Card Series roster. Son returned to live action on the 18th in Game 2, pitching one inning. Although LG lost, Son was able to assess his physical condition from the mound.

Son said, "Actually, I'm not at 100 percent; it feels like I've recovered to about 80 or 90 percent. When I pitched in Gwangju, I didn't expect my velocity to be that high." He added, "I had rested too much and couldn't move my neck, so I wondered if I could do it, but it was surprising that my performance came through on the mound. Still, I thought I could play a game."

Now he is preparing to take on the closer role again. Son said, "I heard from the coach that I will likely be the closer starting today," adding, "Since I don't know how the situation will unfold, I may need to come out early and pitch long innings." When asked how many outs he was considering, he replied, "I'm thinking about six, or up to eight at most." He is prepared to take responsibility for up to two and two-thirds innings, going beyond a standard one-inning save.

He is also willing to pitch on consecutive days. Son said, "I have to go out there. First of all, my neck seems okay. Since I haven't pitched much, my body's recovery might be slow, but I will recover as much as possible." He emphasized, "If we lose, it's over anyway, so I can just rest well after that. I'm going to try to do as much as I can."

The fighting spirit of his teammates through injuries was also a driving force that got Son Ju-young back on his feet. LG starting shortstop Oh Ji-hwan (36) is playing with a partial tear in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee, and Shin Min-jae (30)'s hamstring condition is not fully recovered either. Son said, "Even though (Oh) Ji-hwan hyung and (Shin) Min-jae hyung are not feeling well, they are playing. I came back after treatment with the mindset of doing whatever I could." He added, "I think I need to be a bit of a help today. If we win just one game, maybe the atmosphere will change a little."

On the opposing lineup, he was wary not only of Kim Do-young (23) but also Na Sung-bum (37) and Harold Castro (33). In particular, regarding Castro, he evaluated, "It was my first time facing him, but his contact is good and his power is strong. Even though it was the first time he saw my breaking balls, he hit them well." Regarding the matchup against Kim Do-young, he stated, "I won't avoid him, but I plan to pitch carefully."

He also conveyed the atmosphere of the LG team after two consecutive losses. Son said firmly, "Most of us are thinking, 'Let's go back to Gwangju again.' We can't end it here. The mood is to give it our best shot one more time."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original