The Lion Corps, which has been on the rise since mid-May, has an emergency. The Samsung Lions will play for the time being without two key players in the starting lineup and bullpen.
Samsung made entry changes ahead of a regular season home game between the NC Dinos and the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League that will take place at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Tuesday, eliminating pitchers Won Tae-in and Baek Jeong-hyun. Instead, it called up right-hander Yuk Seon-yeop (20).
"Won Tae-in is not a player who needs rest," a Samsung source told Star News. He pitched in two games and 74 innings this season, displaying five wins, two losses and an earned run average of 2.68. At the match against NC Dinos on Saturday, he became the winning pitcher by allowing nine hits and three runs in seven innings, contributing to Samsung coach Park Jin-man's 200th win.
However, Won Tae-in, who suffered right shoulder joint and spinal damage during the Korean Series last year, stopped pitching again at the end of the second camp in Okinawa, Japan. As a result, he slowed down his pace and returned to the game against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on March 29, a week after the opening. He has continued to display good pitching since then, but he will take a break for a long-term race.
Won Tae-in is not due to a special injury, but Baek Jung-hyun is a little different. A club official said, "I have left shoulder discomfort, and I am waiting for the results after hospital treatment." Depending on the test results, the period of departure may be prolonged.
Returning to the bullpen for the first time in a long time this season, Baek is playing a key role in the relief team. He has posted an ERA of 1.95 with two wins, one save and three holds in 29 games. He is performing like an iron wall with a 0.165 hit rate and a 0.80 on-base allowed per inning (WHIP). He earned his first save this season against LG at Jamsil LG on the 31st.
Samsung had difficulties in the relief team, with Kim Jae-yoon shaking at the beginning of the season and Lim Chang-min and Oh Seung-hwan's condition not improving. Still, Lee Ho-sung went as the closing pitcher, and Baek Jung-hyun and Kim Tae-hoon were settled down with a stable appearance. With the recent return of Oh Seung-hwan following Lim Chang-min in late May, the depth became stronger, and Baek Jung-hyun was excluded in this situation. 안전놀이터
After overcoming eight consecutive losses in early May, Samsung won seven consecutive games for the first time in 10 years at the end of May, jumping into the top-ranked competition. After the game ended on May 6, Samsung ranked third.