The Lotte Giants in June. Many key players have disappeared from the lineup. It is true that the team's situation is not good. Nevertheless, there is a good indicator regarding the bullpen: it is 'three consecutive games.' Only one player has changed. The addition of Choi Jun-Yong, who throws 'fastballs,' has changed the way the team's bullpen operates, and it has also injected energy into the team.

Lotte is in a situation where they are barely holding on throughout June. Key players such as Yoon Dong-hee, Jang Du-seong, Na Seung-yeop, and others have been injured and left the lineup. Starting catcher Yoo Kang-nam is in the minor leagues due to poor performance.

The starting rotation has seen Park Se-woong go down to the minor leagues due to poor performance, and Tucker Davidson has lost the good pace he had early in the season and is struggling. New foreign pitcher Alec Gamboa has been sustaining the starting rotation with his powerful fastballs. However, it is true that overall, the starting rotation is lacking. In June, Lotte, amid injuries and a crumbling starting rotation, has maintained a record of 6 wins and 6 losses for a .500 winning percentage. It is literally in a 'survival mode.' If the starting rotation had been okay, better results could have been expected, but the June starting rotation’s average earned run average is 6.28 (61⅔ innings, 43 earned runs). It's in last place. Excluding Gamboa's June performance (3 games, 3 wins, average earned run average of 1.37), the starting rotation's average earned run average rises to 8.57 (42 innings, 40 earned runs).

Although the starting rotation is not holding up well, the reason Lotte is avoiding the worst is because of the bullpen. The bullpen's average earned run average is 3.25, ranking second after KT (2.90). Even early in the season, there were significant concerns about the bullpen and worries about overwork, but now those worries have disappeared. The inclusion of just one player, Choi Jun-Yong, has changed everything.

Choi Jun-Yong, the first overall pick in 2020, had the potential for powerful fastballs but had to struggle with pain every season and could not overcome it. Eventually, last year he underwent right shoulder joint surgery to remove the source of the pain. This year's spring camp saw elbow pain arise, momentarily halting his rehabilitation, but he returned in mid-May.

He was registered on the first-team roster on May 17 and played his return game. Throughout May, it seemed like he was regaining his first-team game sense. He threw impressive speeds in the mid-150s km/h range but faced some shaky moments. He recorded an average earned run average of 5.40 (6⅔ innings, 4 earned runs) over 6 games. Still, he struck out 9 batters.

And starting from June, he found his rhythm. In June, he has a record of 1.08 average earned run average over 8 games and 8⅓ innings. He struck out 8 batters but is generally regaining his ability to operate as a first-team key reliever. After his return in May, he walked 3 batters in 6 games, whereas in June, he allowed only 1 walk in 8 games.

A solid winning combination has been formed with Choi Jun-Yong, Jeong Cheol-won, and Kim Won-jung. Consequently, the burden on the bullpen, which had been heavily loaded with concerns about overwork until May, has significantly decreased. In June, as Choi Jun-Yong found his rhythm, the Lotte bullpen has not experienced a single 'three consecutive games.'

Until May, the Lotte bullpen frequently faced consecutive games. Jeong Cheol-won recorded 9 appearances in two consecutive games and 1 in three consecutive games, while Jeong Hyeon-su recorded 10 appearances in two consecutive games and 2 in three consecutive games. Song Jae-young also marked 8 appearances in two consecutive games and 2 in three consecutive games, while Kim Sang-su recorded 9 appearances in two consecutive games and 2 in three consecutive games, and Kim Kang-hyun recorded 4 appearances in two consecutive games and 2 in three consecutive games.

It was difficult to find bullpen pitchers who had not pitched in three consecutive games. The process of getting to closer Kim Won-jung was tough. However, with Choi Jun-Yong returning and successfully closing out an inning, the burden of three consecutive games has disappeared. Jeong Hyeon-su has pitched only twice in two consecutive games in June, and Jeong Cheol-won hasn't pitched in consecutive games at all in June. Additionally, there hasn't been a single instance of three consecutive games. Many situations that would stress the team did not arise, but Choi Jun-Yong's addition has provided the entire bullpen with some breathing room. Instead, Choi Jun-Yong pitched in three consecutive games three times in June. Showing the best form, he has naturally become the pitcher most utilized. As Choi Jun-Yong shares the burden that had been placed on Jeong Cheol-won, the entire bullpen has stabilised. While managing Choi Jun-Yong's consecutive game usage will be important going forward, if veterans such as Jeong Hyeon-su, Kim Sang-su, and others, who have regained their strength, can perform well along with Gu Seung-min, Park Si-young, and Park Jin-hyung, it can further distribute the power within the bullpen.

The fastball-winning combination that everyone has been waiting for, the presence of Choi Jun-Yong has been substantial and has become the light of the bullpen.

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