Na Sung-beom will finally start for the first time. He will play as the fourth designated hitter.
In the match against the KT Wiz at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 2nd, Kia will start with Seo Kun-chang (2nd baseman), Choi Won-joon (right fielder), Kim Do-young (3rd baseman), Na Sung-bum (designated hitter), Choi Hyung-woo (left fielder), Socrates Brito (center fielder), Lee Woo-sung (1st baseman), Han Jun-su (catcher), and Park Chan-ho (striker). When Na Sung-bum comes in, Kim Sun-bin, who hit a home run the previous day, will take a rest, and Choi Hyung-woo will take the defense of left field for the first time in this season.
“I delayed (the timing of Na’s return) more than I thought. I said I was in good physical condition, but I delayed it little by little because running was important. What’s important is not to come out and play full defense. I think I need to feel that I’m okay to be able to play outfield. I’m going to play designated hitter, and I’m going to have a rotation day off. I have a lot of outfield resources, so I think we need to prepare Na so that he can play for a full season without getting injured,” Kia Tigers coach Lee Bum-ho said.
Since the game against LG in Jamsil on April 28, Choi has been reviving by hitting home runs in the latest three consecutive games. Socrates is also on the rise. “I told him the timing was not good until a few days ago, but he had a good feeling since the game against LG in Jamsil. It seems that Socrates and Choi Hyung-woo have come up as much as they did their best last year. Na Sung-bum will also feel relaxed. The most important part of the team is that the key hitters’ conditions improve.”
KIA also saved its pitching staff as starting pitcher Yang Hyun-jong threw a complete game at the game on Tuesday. “Hyeon Jong helped (other pitchers) rest because it was Labor Day,” manager Lee Bum-ho said with a smile. “I felt that the tip of the ball was good from the beginning. I never thought that he would throw so well. I think it was worth more than one win.”
“Coach Jung Jae-hoon said he would change to Kwak Do-gyu after the eighth inning, but he said he would do a complete game,” coach Lee Beom-ho said of the replacement. “As an old player, I would have liked to take responsibility for the inning. As a player, he has good consciousness.” “You have to listen when you can, so you can stop him when the time comes to stop him. Yesterday, I was in good condition, and I was able to post in the ninth inning because I didn’t have many pitches,” he said.
BY: 토토