Professional baseball LG Twins left-handed pitcher Song Seung-gi (23) is leading LG's charge into first place with remarkable performance.

Song Seung-gi, who joined LG after being drafted in the second round of the 2021 rookie draft (87th overall), only appeared in 8 games in the first team until last year. Without any notable performance, Song Seung-gi enlisted in the military in May 2023. During his time in the military, he played 36 games (175 innings) with a record of 16 wins, 5 losses, 1 hold, and 1 save while achieving a strong earned run average of 2.57.

After finishing his military service, Song Seung-gi received an opportunity as the fifth starter this year. He took this chance perfectly, surprising everyone with his remarkable performance. This season, he has recorded 12 games (70⅓ innings) with 7 wins, 3 losses, and an earned run average of 2.30, showing performance comparable to an ace. Still eligible as a rookie, Song Seung-gi is currently mentioned as one of the top contenders for the rookie of the year award, ranking third in league earned run average, seventh in wins, nineteenth in strikeouts, and twenty-sixth in innings pitched while maintaining a pace that challenges for the pitching golden glove.

Many did not expect Song Seung-gi to perform at this level this year. Even Youm Kyoung-youb, the manager who gave him the opportunity as the fifth starter, could not have anticipated his surprising performance. In an interview on the 10th, Youm Kyoung-youb said, "(Song) Seung-gi is doing better than expected. He has shown much faster growth and a better performance than we anticipated, and he is becoming a force that helps us cover our weaknesses and endure."

LG is currently at the top of the league with a record of 40 wins, 1 draw, and 26 losses for a winning percentage of .606. However, it is a precarious first place, as it leads second-place Hanwha (40 wins, 27 losses, winning percentage of .597) by only 0.5 games. Beleaguered players have become variables, leading to some tough moments. Early in the season, starter Shin Min-jae went to the second team due to poor performance, and now starting shortstop Oh Ji-hwan is in the second team due to hitting struggles. Starter third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong is also limited to designated hitter due to a knee injury.

Manager Youm Kyoung-youb said, "Baseball is very challenging. Ultimately, it's performed by humans, so there are many variables. However, in terms of growth, we sometimes get results that exceed our expectations. Seung-gi is doing much more than we thought, which is why we can maintain first place."

Ultimately, to maintain a stable position at the top, it is essential for starting players considered constants, such as Oh Ji-hwan, Kim Hyun-soo, Park Hae-min, Austin Dean, Moon Bo-gyeong, Moon Sung-ju, and Shin Min-jae, to consistently show the expected performance. Emphasizing that "we are a hitting team," manager Youm Kyoung-youb stated, "Thanks to Seung-gi, we are able to hold first place. If the areas we are currently lacking improve as we move into the second half, we can win. After about 30 years of playing and studying baseball, it always seems to be the same. Those teams win championships," expressing hope for an upswing in the second half.

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