Excluding 3G consecutive starters, is the season closed as foreigners in humiliation who can't even hit a pinch hitter because they're behind a tick batter

Sep 01, 2025

Excluding 3G consecutive starters, is the season closed as foreigners in humiliation who can't even hit a pinch hitter because they're behind a tick batter
The second of three consecutive games during the week between Kiwoom and Lotte at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 23rd. Hitting Kiwoom Cardinals. Gocheok = Reporter Song Jeong-heon @sportschosun.com/2025.07.23/



A foreign hitter who can't even get a substitute?

It's a humiliation of the Kiwoom Heroes Cardinez. In addition to three consecutive starts, even the last-chance fourth-place pinch-hitter gave up to the batter 'tick'.

Kiwoom achieved a winning series of three consecutive weekend games against the LG Twins last weekend. Rather than Kiwoom taking the winning, it is great that it stopped the leader LG's 13th consecutive winning series. Other teams also showed strong performance against LG, which they had been struggling with. If it wasn't for Lee Joo-hyung's last dune in Gyeonggi Province on the 30th, the game, which was pushed to 0-6, would have been 6-6.




What is noteworthy is that in these three games, Kiwoom almost ruled out foreign batters Cardinez. He missed the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. However, in the first game on the 29th, he couldn't start because he was behind rookie Yeom Seung-won He came out as a pinch hitter and played two at-bats, a strikeout and a fly to center field.

And the last game on the 31st. Kiwoom led 5-1 and allowed a 5-5 tie. However, in the top of the ninth inning, the opponent's closing pitcher Yoo Young-chan had a great chance to hit first and second bases with one out, and acting coach Seol Jong-jin sent out Kim Tae-jin as a substitute in place of No. 4 Joo Sung-won. There was also a card left, but it was Kim Tae-jin.

Excluding 3G consecutive starters, is the season closed as foreigners in humiliation who can't even hit a pinch hitter because they're behind a tick batter
A game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 22nd. Kiwoom Cardines is getting ready for the game. Gocheok = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.07.22/
Of course, second baseman Song Sung-moon and first baseman Lee Ju-hyung's feet are fast, so they could have judged that a single hit made by contact-oriented Kim Tae-jin is more likely, but it is natural that the opponent is afraid of Cardines, who can cross over if he is hit by Kim Tae-jin in a desperate moment. However, the fact that he is not willing to take advantage of his psychological superiority can be interpreted as Kiwoom's bench almost giving up its expectations for Cardinez.




Kiwoom is definitely at the bottom anyway. And now there is only an additional schedule left for September. If you're not very willing to renew your contract with Cardinez next season, you might as well give young players a chance. Of course, it's right to do my best until the end of Prony, but the problem is that if you judge that sending Cardinez out is unlikely to be of great help to the team, there is a justification to give other players a chance.

Cardinez came to the Samsung Lions as a substitute last year and played a brilliant role in the beginning, but he left Samsung in disgrace due to a side injury issue. And he accepted Kiwoom's offer, saying he would restore his honor ahead of this season. Kiwoom started the season with two foreign hitters who no other team does. After the opening, the operation seemed to succeed, with Cadines and Puig showing huge RBI production, but things began to get twisted after Cadines went on an incredible fall after maternity leave in the United States. There were also injuries. He has a batting average of 253 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs in 86 games this season.

Will we be able to see Cardinez in September.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.