"Recharging."
KIA Tigers foreign ace James Neail (32) will take time to recharge. KIA removed Neail from the first team roster on the 23rd. He will be absent for ten days. He will miss one starting appearance. The reason is rest. Since the opening game, he has been running without pause. He is expected to pitch in one game at the end of the first half.
Neail has pitched in 16 games this season, recording 5 wins, 2 losses, an earned run average of 2.68, and a WHIP of 1.06. He has logged 97⅓ innings, which is the second most after Cody Ponce of Hanwha (101⅔ innings). He averaged 6 innings per game and has recorded 11 quality starts (second place). He has consistently followed the path of an ace.
On the 22nd, he recorded 6⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs in a game against SSG in Incheon. He pitched scoreless until the 6th inning. However, in the 7th inning, leading 2-0, he gave up a three-run homer to Han Yoo-seom and left the mound. In the 8th inning, a pinch-hit two-run homer by Kim Seok-hwan helped him avoid a loss.
Having primarily played in the bullpen during his time in the U.S., he joined KIA last year as a starting pitcher. Last year, he adjusted his innings and appearance intervals without any recharge time. He suffered an injury when hit in the jaw by a pitch at the end of August, forcing him to end the season and take a long rest. After returning, he performed well in two Korean Series games, contributing to the championship. Immediately after winning, KIA's top priority was re-signing with Neail. Neail received offers from Major League Baseball teams but chose to remain with KIA after careful consideration.
This year, he has been pitching as the number one starter since the opening game and has logged significantly more innings than last year. He also had two appearances with a four-day interval. Considering he is in his second full-time year, it was decided to give him some rest. There are many number one starters among the pitchers he faces. There has been a lack of strong offensive support. Despite an excellent performance, he only has 5 wins. With his return, he can also adjust matchup situations.
After ten days of recharge time, he will be eligible for first team registration starting July 3rd in a game against SSG in Gwangju. If he pitches that day, he will participate in the last game of the first half on the 10th against Hanwha in Gwangju. After that, he will take a six-day All-Star break and is expected to participate in a four-game series against NC in Gwangju. In many ways, now is the right time for him to take a break.
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