"From the second half, I will return."
Left-handed pitcher Lee Eui-ri of the KIA Tigers is set to enter real competition. Manager Lee Beom-ho announced this before the match against Samsung in Gwangju on the 10th. "I will start pitching in real games from this weekend. I will either pitch in the Saturday or Sunday game. I will pitch three times by the end of this month. I will assess whether to return in July based on how I perform until then," he stated.
Specifically, he will participate in the game against the NC Dinos on the 14th at Masan Baseball Stadium. As it will be his first appearance, it seems he won't throw many innings. He underwent a thorough rehabilitation process after elbow ligament repair surgery last year. Ahead of his return to real competition, a final medical examination revealed slight inflammation, causing a two-week postponement.
If there are no major issues, it appears he will pitch in the first team at the end of the first half. Lee Eui-ri's return will be a significant boost for the mound. This will give a break to the exhausted existing starting pitchers while naturally strengthening the bullpen. Recently, Yoon Yong-cheol has been performing well, allowing for a vigorous starting rotation.
It doesn't stop there. By that time, it is expected that key players such as Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin, and Kim Do-young, who have been out due to injuries, will also announce their returns. Even if we delay as much as possible, starting from the second half, we will be able to field a complete batting lineup. As of the 10th, there are still 26 games remaining to close out the first half. There is still a long way to go.
With the absence of Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin, and Kim Do-young, the team's offensive power has dropped sharply. Scoring 3 to 4 runs is not easy. Oh Seon-woo, Yoon Do-hyun, and Hwang Dae-in are stepping up and doing their best, but it is also true that there is a lack of cohesion. Ultimately, until then, a 50% win rate is the maximum goal. Once everyone returns, there will be an opportunity to aim for a rebound.
Manager Lee noted, "It seems that Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin, and Kim Do-young will return from the second half. They must hold on until then. Right now, I am grateful that the players, seasoned players, and mid-tier players are doing their best in the games they can win. Last weekend, we had a competitive match against the strong Hanwha. The young players have endured, and their confidence has grown significantly. The period until the All-Star game is extremely important," he urged.
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