Lotte Giants Adjust Pitching Staff as Key Arms Face Challenges
The Lotte Giants are navigating a period of adjustment within their pitching rotation, with manager Kim Tae-hyung addressing the team’s strategy for upcoming games. The club has announced that pitcher Na Gyun-an has been removed from the first-team entry following a recent challenging outing.
Im Min-seok Steps Up as Replacement Starter
Taking on a crucial role in the rotation is Im Min-seok, who has been tasked with filling the void left by Na Gyun-an. Im Min-seok has made a significant impression in his recent appearances as a spot starter, stepping in for Elvin LRodrigues who was previously sidelined due to a back injury. In two starts, Im Min-seok has demonstrated promising form.
During a game on May 30th against NC, Im Min-seok pitched a perfect four innings before conceding runs in the fifth, finishing with 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing three hits, one walk, and two earned runs. Manager Kim praised his performance, noting, “His pitches were truly good. They were fastballs that moved well. He’s a pitcher who can win with his arm if he’s in sync.”
Continuing his solid pitching, Im Min-seok delivered 5 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball against Hanwha on June 6th, throwing 77 pitches and allowing six hits while striking out three. His ability to consistently throw fastballs averaging 150 km/h has ignited hopes for a homegrown starting pitcher, and he has been given a temporary opportunity as a replacement starter.
Concerns Over Other Pitchers’ Performance
Despite Im Min-seok’s strong showing, manager Kim expressed concerns regarding other pitchers. “Na Gyun-an’s pitches weren’t good. He was struggling. Kim Jin-uk is also struggling quite a bit,” Kim stated. “We are considering giving Jin-uk a start once. When Gyun-an returns, Jin-uk will likely be rotated out again.”
Kim further elaborated on the immediate plan: “Im Min-seok will be the replacement starter. He will pitch after resting for six days. He has also been removed from the mid-game relief pitcher list.”
Kyoyama’s Future with the Team Uncertain
The team is also facing uncertainty regarding the future of import pitcher Kyoyama Masaya. Kyoyama has been sidelined from the first team for over a month since his removal on May 9th. The Giants are actively seeking an alternative Asian pitcher to replace him. While Kyoyama has shown flashes of potential in the second team, his overall performance has been inconsistent.
In a recent outing on June 10th against NC, Kyoyama pitched seven innings, throwing 75 pitches and allowing no runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. This performance marked his best since being sent to the second team. However, his previous start on June 4th against KIA was less successful, as he gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings, including three home runs.
Manager Kim reiterated his confidence in Im Min-seok, stating, “Im Min-seok is pitching well. Is there really a need to go with Kyoyama?” He added, “If Min-seok’s results aren’t good, we’ll consider Kyoyama, but Min-seok is pitching too well right now.”
