Barring an upset, the LG Twins will likely clinch their first first-place finish in the regular season in 29 years and punch their ticket directly to the Korean Series. Despite their recent three-game losing streak, they remain seven games behind the second-place KT Wiz and 8.5 games behind the third-place NC Dinos. Even as LG builds on this historic season, there is a problem. It’s the roster.
Before the game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 1st, LG head coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “We failed in terms of developing beasts. I wanted to develop the three people I thought were most important, but it didn’t work out, so I had to drag it out very hard.”
The three players Yeom is referring to are infielders Lee Jae-won, Song Chan-ui, and Son Ho-young.
Lee Jae-won, who hit 13 home runs last year while being dubbed the “big boy in the room,” is a big bat prospect who was expected to make the full leap to the starting lineup this year. Yoon even tried to keep him on the bench this season, but he batted just .215 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 55 games.
Song Chan-ui, last year’s trials home run king, batted just .056 in 19 regular-season games this year, while Son Ho-young hit .167 in 19 games.
“Everyone says our outfield is thick, but we couldn’t develop them, and that’s the biggest regret,” Yeom reiterated.스포츠토토
LG is a “hitting team” this season, ranking first in team batting average (0.281) and team OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage – 0.758).
However, Yeom said, “There is a lot of reliance on the nine main outfielders. At the end of the day, our hitting stats are good because they’ve been able to stay healthy without any major injuries,” he said, “and we’ve been able to manage them well in the training part. I’m very grateful for that.”