“Swap and swap again”: Won Tae-in and Logan return to starting rotation, Choi Won-tae moves to bullpen → Intense bench battles [KS2 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Change, and change again. In the Korea Series matchup between KT Wiz and Samsung Lions, a breathless bench battle over pitching staff management is unfolding.

Ahead of Game 2 of the 2026 KBO League Korea Series held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 4th, the managers of both teams announced plans to change the roles of their key pitchers. In summary, Samsung’s Won Tae-in (26) and KT’s Logan (29) will return to their original positions as starting pitchers, while Samsung’s Choi Won-tae (29) will move down to the bullpen.

KT Manager Lee Kang-cheol said at a pre-game press conference on the day, “Logan will just go back to his usual role, doing what he has always done.”

Logan, who started games in the regular season, took the mound as the team’s second pitcher in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the Korea Series on the previous day (the 3rd), following starter Daniel. However, he allowed two hits and two runs over one-third of an inning, permitting the opponent to mount a comeback. As a result, KT is expected to utilize Logan as a starting pitcher, his original role, for the remainder of the series.

Samsung’s situation is somewhat more complex. Samsung Manager Park Jin-man, who placed Choi Won-tae on the non-traveling player list for the day, stated, “He threw over 40 pitches (43 pitches) yesterday (the 3rd), so it will be difficult for him to wait in the bullpen today. He will enter the game from the bullpen starting with Game 3.” Choi Won-tae, who started Game 1 on the previous day, struggled, allowing five runs over two innings. Earlier, he also made an early exit after allowing three hits and two runs in one and two-thirds innings as a starter in Game 3 of the Playoffs (PO) against the KIA Tigers.

Manager Park also revealed his intention to use Won Tae-in, who had been converted to a reliever for this postseason, as a starter in place of Choi Won-tae. Won Tae-in had previously taken the mound as a relief pitcher three times (Games 2, 3, and 5) during the Playoffs.

Manager Park Jin-man explained, “Won Tae-in could potentially come out of the bullpen in the latter half of today’s (the 4th) game depending on the situation,” adding, “We plan to decide which game he will start based on whether he plays or not today.” With Samsung’s starter for Game 3 scheduled to be Hurado, Won Tae-in is expected to take the starting mound in either Game 4 or Game 5.

In short series, the bench’s pitching strategy inevitably has a significant impact on winning and losing. At times, unconventional mound management can serve as a decisive variable in determining the outcome of the series. Attention is now focused on what results the bold changes made by both teams after just one game will bring to the remaining series.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original