This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.

Sep 16, 2025

This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.
A match between KIA and Samsung held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 10th. KIA's nail roars after overcoming the crisis of a full base run with two outs in the fifth inning. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2025.09.10/



KIA Tigers ace James Nail has become difficult to take the mound in the semifinal. It's because my arm is not in good condition.

Nail was scheduled to start against the Hanwha Eagles in Gwangju on the 16th. I played catch on the 15th according to the schedule, and I told the club that it would be difficult to start right away because my arm felt heavy. The club had no choice but to accept it and urgently put rookie Kim Tae-hyung as the starting pitcher on the day.

Originally, KIA was scheduled to rotate its starting rotation to Nail-Kim Tae-hyung-Adam Oler for the three consecutive home games against Hanwha from the 16th. KIA is continuing its hopes for the fifth round, but it was unknown what would happen if it went well against Hanwha. KIA would have tried to get a result above the Winning Series somehow as it is in a situation where both foreign pitchers can be used.




However, Kim Tae-hyung took the mound on the 16th as Nail failed to take the mound. On the 17th, Kim Geon-guk will replace the vacancy. Both Kim Tae-hyung and Kim Geon-guk are substitute starters who cannot guarantee five innings. KIA has to wait for enough bullpen on the 16th and 17th, so it is not expected to be easy to manage the mound.

KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said, "(Nail played catch yesterday (15th) and his arm was a little heavy, and he said it was different from the previous feeling, so we will have to wait and see for a few days. It is said that he is heavy, unlike the feeling of loosening his arms. I'm going to play catch tomorrow to check my condition, and talk to the training part about when it will be. I think I'll have to wait until today and judge tomorrow," he said, leaving open the possibility of missing more than one turn.

This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.
A match between KIA and Samsung held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 10th. KIA's starting nail is requesting a mound inspection during pitching in the first inning. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2025.09.10/
This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.
A match between KIA and Samsung held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 10th. KIA's nail is pitching as a starter. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2025.09.10/
Nail played as KIA's irreplaceable ace this year following last year. He went 8-4 with 164 ⅓ innings, 152 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in 27 games.

KIA expected Nail to add more power to the last five-round fight, but it was in a difficult situation where it could not use an ace at the most important moment.

Kim Tae-hyung's shoulders became heavy. Kim Tae-hyung pitched as the second pitcher and pitched four innings of two runs against the Lotte Giants in Gwangju on the 11th, as Kim Do-hyun was replaced by elbow inflammation in two innings. He boasted good pitching, shooting a maximum fastball speed of 152km, and got an opportunity as an alternative starter for Kim Do-hyun.

Kim Tae-hyung will take the mound after a four-day break due to the departure of his nails, and is expected to pitch about 70 pitches on this day.




Director Lee said, "(Kim Tae-hyung) is satisfied with that if he throws it bravely. If you throw as hard as the rookie did when you came up last time, that's what we want most from Kim Tae-hyung. As a starting pitcher, he is a player who must look forward to the future. It is said that it will continue to turn around the starting rotation in the Futures, and it will be up to 70 to 80 pitches. I'll judge after watching him throw four or five innings."

KIA eliminated pitcher Lee Ho-min from the first-tier entry on the day and called up pitcher Kim Si-hoon, who was acquired in a trade with the NC Dinos during this season, to strengthen the bullpen.

This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.
The match between KIA and Lotte at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 11th. KIA Kim Tae-hyung is coming down the mound after pitching in the fourth inning. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2025.09.11/
This is the final match of the 5th round against Hanwha, which is the declaration that KIA ace will not be able to pitch…It's not easy to select alternatives.
The match between the KIA Tigers and the Hanwha Eagles at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 1st. KIA Kim Si-hoon is pitching hard. Gwangju = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.08.01/




This article was translated by Naver AI translator.