The Lotte Giants' manager Kim Tae-hyoung has appointed Son Ho-young as the new leadoff hitter, following Hwang Seong-bin (28) and Jang Du-seong (26).

Lotte has formed its starting lineup for the game against the SSG Landers in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' on the 14th at Incheon SSG Landers Field, with Son Ho-young (second baseman), Go Seung-min (first baseman), Víctor Reyes (right fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Kim Min-sung (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Jung Hoon (designated hitter), Jeung Bo-keun (catcher), and Han Seung-hyun (center fielder). The starting pitcher is Alec Gamboa.

Struggling due to numerous injuries this season, Lotte is particularly troubled by the leadoff position. Starter center fielder Hwang Seong-bin was removed from the roster due to a fractured left ring finger sustained while sliding into first base during the game against SSG on the 5th of last month. Jang Du-seong successfully filled in for him but suffered pulmonary hemorrhage from a pitch by Park Young-hyun during the match against KT on the 12th. Fortunately, he avoided serious injury and was discharged from the hospital, but Lotte has removed Jang Du-seong from the first team roster on the 13th.

In the game on the 13th, Lotte used left-handed outfielder Kim Dong-hyeok as the leadoff hitter because the SSG starting pitcher was right-handed Drew Anderson. However, on that day, SSG replaced the starting pitcher with left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun, necessitating Lotte's change to Son Ho-young as the leadoff hitter.

Lotte's Kim Tae-hyoung noted in an interview on the 13th, "Today, I started (Kim) Dong-hyeok, but I wasn't entirely confident. I even asked the hitting coach if Dong-hyeok was the leadoff hitter. However, I realized there really isn’t a player who can go as the leadoff hitter. So I thought maybe I should try all the fast hitters once, and since (Son) Ho-young is also aggressive at the plate, I am considering using him as well." He used Son Ho-young as the leadoff hitter, as mentioned.

Meanwhile, SSG will start Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Kim Seong-wook (right fielder), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Go Myeong-jun (designated hitter), Park Seong-han (shortstop), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Jo Hyeong-woo (catcher), Kim Chan-hyung (third baseman), and Seok Jeong-woo (second baseman). The starting pitcher is Kim Kwang-hyun.

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