The verification for selection of players from first to fourth has been completed. With the last five remaining positions to be selected, there are many candidates and there are even alternatives. With completion of the starting lineup, LG is agonizing over abundance.메이저사이트

LG is considering rotation of five starting pitchers this season. Elieagers Hernandez, Yonny Chirinos, Im Chan-kyu and Son Ju-young each won the title. Except for the new Chirinos, all of them had their best seasons last year. Hernandez has been close to perfection as a closing pitcher for the postseason. After achieving 10 wins during the regular season, Lim was named the semi-playoff MVP. Son was reborn as a stable regular starter by completing the regular innings for the first time since his debut.

There is only one spot left for the fifth starting pitcher. The vacancy was created when Choi Won-tae, who was a starter last year, moved to Samsung. LG plans to foster and discover the fifth starting pitcher through spring camps and practice games. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop aims to create a case similar to Son Joo-young, who settled down as a regular starter after trial and error.

The five candidates chosen by Yeom are Woo Kang-hoon, Song Seung-ki, Lee Ji-gang and Choi Chae-heung. Except for Choi Chae-heung, who played as a starter for Samsung, they have not had much experience in starting the first team. Lee played in relief in 46 games last year and played a key role in LG's must-win team. Since moving from Lotte to LG in March last year, Woo has been blocking short innings in the middle. Song, who was discharged from the military in November last year, has pitched only 9.1 innings in eight games for the first team.

Manager Yeom's plan to actively recruit young promising players is also revealed. Woo Kang-hoon and Song Seung-ki were both born in 2002. They were also bottom-ranked players who were selected 41st overall and 87th overall at the time of the rookie draft. If one of them secures the fifth starting position, a new wind will blow to LG's starting lineup, which was mainly focused on first-rounders born in the 1990s.

Choi, who was recruited as compensation player for Choi, has open possibilities for both starting pitcher and bullpen session. Choi had been playing as a starter for Samsung until 2023, but lost his pitching speed and was pushed to the halfway stage last year. Choi's performance in the last season was not good, with an earned run average of 6.30 in 14 games and 20 innings.

Coach Yeom said, "Choi Chae-heung is a candidate for the fifth starter, but he is also considering it as a left-hander midfielder."

Choi Chae-heung built his body by losing 4 to 5 kilograms to overcome last year's sluggishness.

"I've been pointed out that the vertical movement and wrist angle have fallen a lot, so I'm paying a lot of attention to that," he said.

Choi Chae-heung said, "As much as the coach expected and nominated him as a reward player, I have a desire to perform accordingly," adding, "I've thrown some innings, so I think I'll be able to play the game well."

Lee played multiple innings last season, displaying his potential as an innings cater. "I'm also thinking of using Lee as a long relief pitcher in the middle if he doesn't join the fifth starting pitcher," Yeom said.

Coach Yeom said, "Even if we can't foster the 5th starter by the first half of the year, there is an alternative this season." Lee Jung-yong, who will be discharged from the military in June, is also considering as a candidate for selection.

Lee Jung-yong started in the bullpen just before joining the army and also joined the starting rotation, contributing to LG's 2023 Korean Series victory.

Coach Yeom said, "Our team's best advantage is that Lee Jung-yong, Yoo Young-chan and Ham Deok-ju return at a time when pitchers are getting tired."