The finishing set-up man's surgery → Long-term blank crisis → Will the multinational bullpen collected from KIA, Doosan, Samsung, and NC achieve the hope of a comeback from the championship
Dec 19, 2024
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Bullpens pitchers from KIA Tigers, Samsung Lions, Doosan Bears, and NC Dinos will make LG's bullpen.
LG was thrilled to win the title for the first time in 29 years, mixing with the strongest lineup with a bee bullpen last year. However, LG's bullpen this season has turned weak. Closer Ko Woo-seok left for the U.S., Ham Deok-ju underwent surgery, Lee Jung-yong joined the military, and the main players of last year's victory disappeared, forcing a new bullpen to be created. Fortunately, new closer Yoo Young-chan made 26 saves, and 39-year-old veteran Kim Jin-sung made 27 holds to support the bullpen, but Baek Seung-hyun, Park Myung-geun, Lee Woo-chan, Kim Yoo-young, and Jung Woo-young, who hoped to grow, showed ups and downs, making the must-win group weak. There was a solid starting lineup, but the weak bullpen ended up being satisfied with the third place, not the second consecutive Korean Series.
When he won the championship, the LG bullpen ranked first overall with an ERA of 3.43, but this year it fell to sixth with 5.21.
Next season's bullpen will be different again. Ham Deok-ju had to undergo long rehabilitation as he underwent surgery to remove a pin stuck in his arm, and even Yoo Young-chan needed at least three months of rehabilitation due to a microfracture of his elbow. In order to prevent the recurrence of injuries, he underwent a bone removal surgery to remove the elbow, but he can throw the ball only when the microfracture gets better.
Initially, LG thought of catching FA Jang Hyun-sik to create a bullpen skeleton with Yoo Young-chan, Jang Hyun-sik and Kim Jin-sung and grow bullpen pitchers. However, Yoo Young-chan's sudden departure made the bullpen difficult again. LG brought lefty Choi Chae-heung from Samsung as a compensation player for Choi Won-tae, who transferred to the FA, and entered the FA market again and signed with veteran bullpen Kim Kang-ryul. In addition, veteran sidearm pitcher Shim Chang-min from NC was recruited through testing.
In other words, four new faces will lead the LG bullpen with Kim Jin-sung. In addition, the company plans to create a solid bullpen by adding existing bullpens such as Jung Woo-young, Baek Seung-hyun, Park Myung-geun, Lee Woo-chan, and Kim Yoo-young, as well as new players such as Heo Yong-joo, Kim Young-woo, Trendy Hyun, Park Si-won, and Kim Jong-woon.
If Lee Jung-yong returns from Sangmu in June, the team will be in a place where the starting and bullpen are needed, and if Yoo Young-chan returns to Ham Deok-ju in the second half of the year, a stronger bullpen can be created.
It gathered a lot of bullpen pitchers. It has become important how to deploy and achieve the best effect. In order for the bullpen to roll well from the beginning, bullpen pitchers must be given appropriate positions from spring camp. First of all, Jang Hyun-sik, a 5.2 billion FA, will be in charge of the finishing position without Yoo Young-chan, and Kim Jin-sung will take charge of the same setup man as this year. Kim Kang-ryul and Choi Chae-heung also have to play in the must-win group. If 'Multinational Military' from the outside plays the expected role, LG will be able to ride a good trend from the beginning. Beads are precious when they are threaded.
indyk@sportschosun.com
