The Hanwha Eagles made changes to their pitching roster. Lee Sang-kyu was demoted to the second team after just one day, and Joo Hyun-sang, who performed as a closer last year, has been called up.
Hanwha registered Joo Hyun-sang in the first team roster ahead of the Doosan match in Daejeon on the 15th and removed Lee Sang-kyu.
Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon noted, "Yesterday (14th) Sang-kyu pitched a lot, and we have weekend games as well," and added, "I have been consistently receiving reports on Hyun-sang from the Futures team, and I am thinking of sending him out if the situation permits today."
Lee Sang-kyu was registered on the first team roster for the first time in 31 days on the previous day (14th). He made a relief appearance as the third pitcher with two outs in the seventh inning but struggled with 5 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and 4 earned runs in 2⅓ innings. With 40 pitches thrown, and considering the upcoming match against SSG in Daejeon from the 16th to 18th, Hanwha changed their bullpen pitcher roster.
Joo Hyun-sang received a call-up to the first team after 49 days. Last year, the right-handed pitcher for Hanwha recorded a franchise-high 23 saves in a single season. This year, he posted 1 save and an earned run average of 20.25 in 3 games with the first team before being sent to the second team. While he didn't play many games, he faced 3 earned runs in 1⅓ innings, but he has had time for readjustment as his pitching quality has declined since the exhibition matches.
In the Futures League, he recorded 12 games (11⅔ innings) with 3 holds and an earned run average of 5.40, along with 13 strikeouts. On the 13th, he demonstrated stability by striking out 2 batters in 1 inning against Samsung. With Kim Seo-hyun securing the closer role, Joo Hyun-sang is expected to pitch in relief, working towards a spot in the winning combination.
After a 12-game winning streak, Hanwha is now on a 2-game losing streak. On this day, they lined up against Doosan's left-handed starter Choi Seung-yong with Lee Won-seok (left fielder), Estevan Florial (center fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-sung (first baseman), Lee Jin-young (right fielder), Hwang Young-mook (second baseman), Lee Jae-won (catcher), and Lee Do-yoon (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Eom Sang-baek.
Lee Won-seok is set to make his second start as the leadoff hitter of the season since the game against Kiwoom on the 13th of last month. Manager Kim Kyung-moon expressed optimism, saying, "He has been performing well lately." Lee Won-seok has shown good hitting form, going 4 for 6 with 1 home run and 3 RBIs in the last 6 games. In the Kiwoom game on the 13th, he also batted first, contributing 2 hits, including the game-winning hit, along with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base to lead the team to victory.
Meanwhile, regarding the registration of outfielder Yoo Ro-gyeol to the first team before the game, replacing outfielder Lee Sang-hyuk, after playing a Futures League game in Seosan at 1 p.m. the previous day (14th), manager Kim Kyung-moon explained, "Ro-gyeol has been performing steadily well in the second team, and I thought it was time to bring him up," stating, "Sang-hyuk injured his right shoulder while sliding. I had no choice but to suddenly change the roster."
[OSEN]