The kt Wiz and KIA Tigers will face off for the first time this season at the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at the kt Wiz Park in Suwon on the 2nd.
On the same day, KIA will have a lineup of batters including Park Chan-ho (striker), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Socrates Brito (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lee Woo-sung (first baseman), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Lee Chang-jin (right fielder), Han Jun-su (catcher), and Choi Won-jun (center fielder). Starting pitcher Yang Hyun-jong.
Against this backdrop, the KT Wiz has set up a lineup that includes Bae Jung-dae (center fielder), Cheon Seong-ho (second baseman), Mel Rojas Jr. (left fielder), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Hwang Jae-gyun (third baseman), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Cho Yong-ho (right fielder) and Kim Sang-soo (striker). Starting pitcher Ko Young-pyo.
KIA starter Yang Hyun-jong took the mound at the match against Lotte in Gwangju on Wednesday, and displayed good pitching by allowing one run in 5.1 innings. Until the previous game, Yang had an ERA of 1.69.
"Yang Hyun-jong is scheduled to pitch twice this week," KIA Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho said through the club ahead of the game on the same day. "For that reason, we are planning to pitch more than 90 pitches. Of course, it may vary depending on the situation and the timing of the replacement, but we will not pass 100 pitches."
In the batting lineup, Kim has been sluggish lately. Kim has shown sluggish batting performance with a batting average of 0.154 (four hits in 26 times at bat) in six games this season. However, coach Lee Bum-ho showed infinite trust.
Earlier in November last year, Kim suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb during first base headfirst sliding at the Asia Baseball Championship. He did not have normal batting training until the first spring camp in Canberra, Australia as well as the off-season. Kim began batting training at the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, and started actual games from exhibition games in March.
Manager Lee Bum-ho said, "Kim Do-young has shown sluggish performance recently. I can see the aftermath of his belated start of technical training due to injury," adding, "However, I am not too concerned. I will not change my batting lineup either. If Kim gets on base, he can generate more than a double effect."
He added, "I expect Kim Do-young to do well."
Lim Ki-young of KIA Pil Seung-jo has been excluded from the first team due to a side injury. Lim Ki-young complained of discomfort in his left side while pitching in the bullpen ahead of the match against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 31st last month, and was diagnosed with micro-damage of the intraperitoneal muscle in his left side after a thorough examination.
"The weather was a little chilly when Lim Ki-young took the mound against Doosan Bears in Jamsil last time. The cold weather probably affected the injury," coach Lee Bum-ho said. "I don't know exactly how long it will take to return, but the extent of the injury is not serious. I hope other players will do well on behalf of Lim."
Right-handed Lee Hyung-beom was registered in the entry of KIA's first team on behalf of Lim Ki-young. Lee said, "Lee Hyung-bum is strong against right-handed hitters. There are many good right-handed hitters in KT. Lee Hyung-bum will make a good pitch against KT's batters," adding the background of the call-up.
BY: 토토