The KIA Tigers announced their starting lineup ahead of the 10th 'Gwanghyun-jong' matchup in their history.
KIA has formed its starting lineup for the game against the SSG Landers in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 21st with Lee Chang-jin (left fielder), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Patrick Wisdom (third baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Hwang Dae-in (first baseman), Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Ho-ryung (center fielder), Kim Tae-kyun (catcher), and Park Min (second baseman).
Park Min, who joined KIA as the 6th pick in the second round of the 2020 rookie draft, is an infielder who has a career batting average of .200 (15 hits in 75 at-bats) over 54 games in the KBO League. While still having limited experience, he has made his third consecutive appearance in the starting lineup this season.
The starting pitcher is Yang Hyun-jong. Yang Hyun-jong has a record of 5 wins and 4 losses with an earned run average of 5.27 over 14 games (71⅔ innings) this season. In his last appearance, he secured a victory against NC, pitching 5 innings with 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Against SSG, he has struggled in 2 games (9⅔ innings) with a 2 loss record and an earned run average of 8.38.
SSG will start with Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Kim Sung-wook (left fielder), Guillermo Heredia (designated hitter), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Ko Myung-jun (first baseman), Park Seong-han (shortstop), Lee Ji-young (catcher), Kim Chan-hyung (third baseman), and Seok Jeong-woo (second baseman).
The starting pitcher is Kim Gwang-hyun. Kim Gwang-hyun has a record of 4 wins and 7 losses with an earned run average of 3.84 over 14 games (77⅓ innings) this season. In his last appearance, he recorded a loss against Lotte, pitching 6 innings with 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. He faced KIA in one game, logging 7 innings with 1 hit allowed (1 home run), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, earning a victory.
In this game, Yang Hyun-jong and Kim Gwang-hyun will face off in their 10th career matchup as starting pitchers. They already clashed this season on May 11. In their first matchup of the season, Kim Gwang-hyun pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 hit (1 home run), recording 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and gave up 1 earned run, earning a win, while Yang Hyun-jong pitched 5⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and gave up 3 earned runs, taking the loss.
Meanwhile, KIA removed left-handed reliever Lee Jun-young from the first team roster on the 20th. He was sent down to the second team for player protection due to elbow inflammation. Instead, Kim Dae-yu has been called up. There are no changes to the first team roster for this game.
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