The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization will face the LG Twins in their first matchup of the season.

Samsung will meet LG on the 15th at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. This is a reunion of the two teams that faced off in last year's playoffs.

Samsung placed pitchers Reyes and Song Eun-beom on the injured list on the previous day (14th). Reyes has a minor shoulder inflammation. The team registered pitcher Lee Jae-hee and infielder Ahn Joo-hyung to the active roster on that day.

Manager Park Jin-man said on the 15th at Jamsil, “Reyes can take a turn off. Usually, pitchers have inflammation in the back of the shoulder, but they say there is inflammation in the bone in the front of the shoulder. He will be rested for a turn, and depending on the bullpen situation this week, we will decide whether Lee Seung-min will enter or if a pitcher preparing from the Futures League will step in as a substitute starter. There are variables depending on the utility of the bullpen this week.” Kim Dae-ho is preparing as a substitute starter from the Futures League.

Reyes recorded an 11-4 win-loss record and a 3.81 earned run average over 26 games last year. He performed well in the postseason, appearing in three games with an earned run average of 0.45 (20⅔ innings, 4 earned runs).

Samsung changed the starting order for Hurado and Choi Won-tae. Manager Park explained, “In terms of dates, there is no great problem if Hurado goes in first. We also considered that he has to pitch twice this week. Tomorrow, it will be Choi Won-tae, and the day after, Won-tae-in.” Hurado will pitch after a 5-day rest. Choi Won-tae will pitch after 7 days of rest on the 16th against LG.

Hurado is currently recording a 1-2 win-loss record and a 2.67 earned run average over four games this season. He has recorded quality starts in all four games but has not had good fortune. On March 28, in a game against Doosan Bears, he pitched 8 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 11 while giving up 2 earned runs, but he became the losing pitcher as Samsung could not score a single run and suffered a complete-game loss. In the game against SSG Landers on the 9th, he performed well, yielding only 1 earned run in 7 innings but left the mound without a decision in a 1-1 tie. Hurado pitched well against LG last year, with a 1-1 win-loss record and a 2.88 earned run average over four games.

On that day, Samsung's lineup featured Kim Sung-yoon (center fielder), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Diaz (first baseman), Kim Heon-gon (left fielder), Yoon Jeong-bin (right fielder), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), and Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop).

Kim Young-woong and Lee Jae-hyun were moved down in the batting order. Manager Park explained, "We made some changes. It seems they are in a bit of a slump in terms of hitting, and to reduce the pressure on them, they were placed in the lower order. Players like Kim Sung-yoon and Ryu Ji-hyuk have been showing good performances, so we adjusted the order a bit."

Samsung has a team batting average of .270, ranking second, but in April, the average is .249, placing them fifth. Koo Ja-wook has a batting average of .197. Manager Park expressed disappointment, saying, "Koo Ja-wook had hit rock bottom until the middle of last week, but he seemed to regain some pace over the weekend in Suwon. It doesn't seem like he is back on track yet. It seems that Diaz is also getting hits, but he is not on the normal trajectory."

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