KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho has deployed a right-handed lineup against Kiwoom Heroes left-handed starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg.
Lee Beom-ho noted in a pre-game interview on July 7 at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome before the game against Kiwoom Heroes in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League, "I set the lineup considering Rosenberg today. There are many young right-handed batters, and (Choi) Hyung-woo has played a lot, so I gave him rest."
KIA's starting lineup consisted of Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Patrick Wisdom (first baseman), Lee Woo-sung (left fielder), Byeon Woo-hyeok (third baseman), Jeong Hae-won (right fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Park Jeong-woo (center fielder). All of the eight batters, excluding the ninth batter Park Jeong-woo, are right-handed. The starting pitcher is Hwang Dong-ha.
Lee Beom-ho said, "Hyung-woo can come out if a chance arises in the late innings or if Rosenberg is taken out," adding, "So I've decided to take more chances with right-handed batters and sent them all out."
Yoon Young-cheol was called up to the first team on the 2nd but has yet to find an opportunity to pitch. Lee Beom-ho explained, "If the starting pitchers are performing poorly in the early innings or getting behind, I've prepared to let someone throw for 2-3 innings. However, the starting pitchers have not collapsed so far and have been consistently throwing 5-6 innings. I also tried to start him during the nine-game stretch, but it rained twice, so I couldn't use him again."
Regarding the decision to keep Yoon Young-cheol in the Futures League due to the lack of pitching opportunities, Lee Beom-ho expressed, "I thought it might be better for him to keep throwing in the first team rather than staying in the Futures League. I wondered if it would even be meaningful for him to pitch 4-5 innings in the Futures League. He doesn't need to pile up innings there. He has pitched in many first team games, and he can enter immediately if any of the starting pitchers have an issue."
Lee Yi-ri, who underwent Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction surgery) last June, is progressing smoothly in rehabilitation. Lee Beom-ho said, "I believe he will be able to pitch in the first team by mid-June. He is currently increasing his pitch count and will soon appear in a Futures League game. If he throws 2 innings, 3 innings and raises his pitch count to 80 or 90, and if he throws 4 innings or 5 innings a couple of times, we can bring him up to the first team then," expressing hope for Lee Yi-ri's return.
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