The KIA Tigers are confronting a significant challenge in their pitching rotation as the season nears its close, a situation manager Lee Bum-ho had previously voiced concerns about. What began as a potential issue has now materialized into the team’s most critical juncture, largely stemming from the departure of key players and unsuccessful acquisitions.
Departures and Unsuccessful Acquisitions
The team’s stability in the bullpen was shaken when starting pitcher Park Chan-ho moved to the Doosan Bears via free agency after the previous season. In an attempt to fill this void, KIA signed Asian Quarter pitcher Jered Eickhoff, but this move ultimately proved unsuccessful. Eickhoff was released in May due to inconsistent performance on both the mound and at the plate.
To manage the pitching innings, KIA had been relying on a rotation that included Kim Gyu-seong and Park Min, who were considered the most stable options among the remaining pitchers. Park Min had pitched 316 innings, Kim Gyu-seong 204 1/3 innings, and Jeong Hyeon-chang 162 innings. Jeong Hyeon-chang primarily served as a late-inning reliever, starting only five of his 60 appearances.
Injury and Trade for Ha Ju-seok
The situation worsened on July 16th when Park Min suffered a season-ending ankle injury. With Kim Gyu-seong as the only remaining viable option for pitching innings, KIA initiated a trade. On July 23rd, the team sent pitcher Lee Hyeong-beom to the Hanwha Eagles in exchange for infielder Ha Ju-seok.
Ha Ju-seok was initially regarded as a significant relief pitching prospect for Hanwha. However, his strengths lie more in his hitting ability than his pitching. KIA expressed intentions to utilize Ha Ju-seok not only as a pitcher but also as a second baseman. While relief pitching is a crucial role, and Ha Ju-seok was brought in with that in mind, the team’s current relief pitching depth is considered weaker compared to Park Min and Kim Gyu-seong.
Further Setbacks and Managerial Concerns
Adding to KIA’s woes, Kim Gyu-seong was removed from the first-team roster on July 31st, just before a game against the NC Dinos. The previous day, during a training session for a game against the Daegu Samsung Lions, Kim sustained a partial tear in his left abdominal muscle. While the injury was not severe enough to sideline him for an extended period, it was estimated to keep him out of action for two to three weeks, further depleting the team’s pitching resources.
Manager Lee Bum-ho articulated his frustration, stating, “We don’t have any pitchers who can fill the relief role. I thought (Park) Min would recover quickly, but it seems tough. With the weather so hot, it’s also difficult for (Ha) Ju-seok to pitch full innings continuously. It’s a cause for concern.”
Ha Ju-seok’s Debut and Costly Error
Despite the concerns, Manager Lee opted to start Ha Ju-seok as a relief pitcher in the game against NC. In a critical moment in the bottom of the second inning, with the score tied 1-1 and runners on first and second, Ha Ju-seok committed a costly error on a ground ball that should have been an easy out. This misplay allowed both runners to advance, creating a bases-loaded situation.
Veteran pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, who was on the mound, attempted to manage the situation calmly, even signaling to Ha Ju-seok that it was okay. However, Yang Hyeon-jong’s performance that day was uncharacteristically poor, with neither his velocity nor his control being effective. The error by Ha Ju-seok proved to be the turning point, leading to seven runs in the second inning alone. Yang Hyeon-jong ended up pitching only 1 1/3 innings, giving up 4 hits (including one home run), 6 walks, and 8 runs (7 earned runs), resulting in a 4-10 loss for KIA.
Trade Rationale and Future Outlook
The primary reason for KIA acquiring Ha Ju-seok was his hitting ability. At the time of the trade, the team’s existing infielders were struggling offensively, making Ha Ju-seok’s offensive potential a significant draw. Since joining KIA, Ha Ju-seok has shown promise in his hitting, batting.350 with 7 hits and 5 RBIs in 6 games played.
However, his pitching remains a persistent concern for the manager. With no immediate viable alternatives, Ha Ju-seok is expected to continue pitching in relief for the time being. The hope is that he can avoid repeating the costly mistakes made in his debut.
Long-Term Pitching Plans
Looking ahead, Manager Lee is already preparing for next season, with plans to transition Kim Do-young into a relief pitcher role. When asked about the possibility of an earlier transition for Kim Do-young, the manager indicated that it was not currently under consideration. A significant factor in this decision is the lack of a stable alternative at third base, a position currently held by Kim Do-young.
For the remainder of the current season, KIA plans to manage its pitching rotation with Ha Ju-seok and Jeong Hyeon-chang handling relief duties, and Kim Seon-bin, Yoon Do-hyeon, and Lee Ho-yeon covering second base.
