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| In an exhibition game between LG and SSG at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 16th, LG Oh Ji-hwan hits a hit and returns to the base in the top of the 4th inning. Incheon= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.03.16/ |
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| LG Hong Chang-ki swings in an exhibition game between LG and SSG at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 16th. Incheon= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.03.16/ |
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| The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and LG held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 11th. LG Kim Hyun-soo hit a triple in the third inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.11/ |
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Of the nine main hitters of the LG Twins, seven except Austin Dean and Park Dong-won are left-handed hitters. So, most teams often start left-handed pitchers against the LG Twins. It is true that LG is weak against left-handed pitchers.
Looking at the figures alone, it doesn't feel too much. LG's batting average against left-handed pitchers last year was 280, ranking third overall. He is second in batting average against right-handed pitchers with a batting average of 284.
However, there were many particularly strong left-handed pitchers in the game against LG. The representative pitcher was Wes Benjamin of KT Wiz. In 2023, when LG won the championship, Benjamin showed off his iron wall with four wins, no losses, and a 0.84 ERA in five games against LG. Last year, he continued his good performance with 1-1 losses and a 1.93 ERA in four games. LG is fortunate to have failed to renew the contract this season. However, another LG killer sat in the place where Benjamin left. Emmanuel de Heysus, who threw at Kiwoom Heroes last year, came. Heyesus pitched extremely hard against LG last year. He pitched in three games and recorded three wins, no losses, and an ERA of 0.00. During 19 innings, he allowed 20 strikeouts and one run (non-earned) to tie up LG's batting lineup.
No matter how good LG's left-handed hitters were, it was inevitably more difficult for good left-handed pitchers.
There is good news for LG this season. This is because the number of foreign pitchers who play the ace role of each team has decreased.
Last year, eight of the 18 foreign pitchers on nine teams facing LG, including Benjamin, Hayesus, Roenis Elias (SSG), Charlie Barnes (Lotte), Brandon Waddell (Doosan), Ricardo Sanchez (Hanwha), Kyle Hart and Daniel Castano (NC), were left-handed pitchers.
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| The Doosan-Samsung match held at Daegu Lions Park on the 10th. Doosan starter Colerbin is pitching. Daegu = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.3.10/ |
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| The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 9th. Lotte Barnes is pitching as a starter. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.09/ |
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| The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and Hanwha at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 13th. Lotte Davidson pitching as a starter. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.13/ |
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However, this season, the number of players decreased to six, including Heysus and Barnes, Kiwoom's Kenny Rosenberg, Lotte's Tucker Davidson, Doosan's Cole Irvin and NC's Logan Allen.
Of course, there were many right-handed pitchers who threw well against LG last year, including Samsung's Conor Seabold, KIA's James Nail and Kiwoom's Ariel Furado. However, for LG, which faces left-handed pitchers, it becomes stressful for now. The fact that there are many right-handed pitchers has the advantage of being able to produce the best lineup without worrying.
If a left-handed starter comes out, there are weak left-handed batters in left-handed pitchers, so there should be a right-handed batter to send them out instead. Last year, none of the right-handed hitters showed good batting, so I had to play a very difficult game. Still, this season, Koo Bon-hyuk is on the infield side and Song Chan-ui is on the outfield. In addition, Moon Jung-bin can see both inside and outside, so he can use right-handed hitters depending on the situation.
LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop is already considering the starting lineup for the opening game against the Lotte Giants in Jamsil on the 22nd. This is because Lotte's left-handed Barnes is expected to be selected. Song Chan-ui and Koo Bon-hyuk are likely to start on behalf of Moon Sung-joo and Shin Min-jae.
The decrease in the number of left-handed foreign pitchers itself is a good thing for LG. Will LG's left-handed line be able to exert its power.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
