The absence period is not expected to be long. It is expected to be available around mid-April. Still, there is a big difference between being together from the start and not being together. LG will start the opening game on April 1 without finishing pitcher Go Woo-seok (25) and Geopo prospect Lee Jae-won (24).
Both are virtually impossible to open. Go Woo-seok, who was on the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team, felt pain in his right shoulder while pitching in an evaluation match against Orix held in Osaka, Japan on the 6th prior to the tournament. At the time, the results of the local examination did not seem to be a major injury, but after returning home, the examination results showed that he needed two weeks for treatment.
On the 16th, he went down to the Icheon Rehabilitation Group instead of the 1st Division, and recently entered the catch ball. He is a closer with a small number of pitches and innings pitched, but he has not played a game yet. It is expected that it will be difficult to start the first team not only in the opening game but also in the first week of opening. Assuming that he returns after playing 2 or 3 games in the 2nd team, mid-April can be a realistic return point.
Ko Woo-seok had a career-high season last year with 42 saves and an average ERA of 1.48, digesting 61 games and 60.2 innings. He established himself as the league’s top finishing pitcher with a batting average of 0.173 and a WHIP (percentage on base allowed per inning) of 0.97. He was one of the few pitchers to show off his normal condition during the national team camp by thoroughly engaging in off-season training. However, he had a particularly brutal March and was unable to stand on the starting line for the new season as well as the WBC stage.
Lee Jae-won is highly anticipated within the club. Last year he drew 13 arches, proving that power one is exp. He hit a home run with a batting speed of 180 km/h, which he could not make unless he was born. Director Yeom Kyung-yeop, who took the baton last November, immediately announced the Lee Jae-won growth project. Lee Jae-won also established a batting mechanic and batting theory from off-season to camp.
But the body won’t follow. He re-injured his left side, which was injured at the end of the Arizona camp in the United States. On the 24th, he narrowly returned to the first team and played his demonstration game, but after playing only two games, he went to the rehabilitation group again. Looking back on his performance against Gocheok Kiwoom on the 25th with 2 hits in 2 at-bats including a home run, he cannot help but feel regret. 2 weeks to recover. Coach Yeom’s plan to put Lee Jae-won against starting pitcher Wes Benjamin in the opening game also became inevitable.
The biggest advantage of LG is depth. This is especially true of the bullpen and fielders. Both Go Woo-seok and Lee Jae-won have replacement cards. We tested this in an exhibition game. Lee Jung-yong (26) replaced Ko Woo-seok, and Song Chan-eui (24) replaced Lee Jae-won. 메이저사이트
Lee Jeong-yong is cruising with 3 saves in 5 consecutive matches until the match against SSG in Jamsil on the 27th. During the 2022 season, he recorded a save on behalf of Go Woo-seok, who was fighting once. At the time of the first nomination in 2019, he was evaluated as a power pitcher who could serve as a closer in the future, and he is expected to take on that task at the beginning of this season.
Song Chan-eui has been named in the lineup for the opening match for the second year in a row. During his demonstration games, he also showed an improved pioneering plan. He played an active role with a batting average of 0.262, 3 homers, 10 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.931 until Jamsil SGG on the 27th. Song Chan-eui is a strong choice as a right-handed card against Benjamin.
The players prepared for several months from November of last year, looking forward to the opening game on April 1st. The coach and coaching staff also set big goals along with the players they train. Breaking away from the opening game can be futile.
But the season is long. If Lee Jung-yong and Song Chan-eui play an active role and prove their depth, Ko Woo-seok and Lee Jae-won step on the accelerator when they return. Director Yeom is considering putting Song Chan-eui and Lee Jae-won in the lineup together depending on the situation.
The results of a total of 11 matches against KT, Kiwoom, Samsung, and Lotte from April 1 to 13 will determine the flow of LG’s early season. If you hold on and stay on top, you can fly higher from mid-April.