Who will win the starting job?
There is a battle for survival in the Kia Tigers’ starting rotation. The epicenter of the competition is 21-year-old third-year right-hander Hwang Dong-ha. He was a substitute starter, but has made his presence felt and earned his spot. Lee Yi-ri returned and a new foreign pitcher joined the team. That’s six starters. One of them could be dropped, but the starting rotation is open for the summer games.
Hwang Dong-ha made his first career quality start on April 30 against the NC Dinos in Changwon. He went six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks. He led the team to an 11-2 victory and earned his second win of the season. With the sweep, the team extended its winning streak to five games. 스포츠토토 In the seventh inning, left-hander Sa-yoon Kim pitched three scoreless innings. He saved his best pitchers for last.
He started in place of Lee, who left the game with elbow pain. Hwang was a chaser. In his first start on April 27 against LG, he struggled with five runs in 3⅔ innings. However, he showed promise with five innings (three runs) against Hanwha on May 3. After pitching five innings of one-run ball against SSG on May 12, he pitched five innings of two-run ball against NC on May 18 to earn his first win.
He continued his momentum and pitched five innings of three-run ball against Doosan on the 24th.
He pitched five innings in five consecutive games. Hwang did his part to make the game. As he continued to pitch reliably, manager Lee Bum-ho gave him the green light to continue as a starter. He responded with his first quality start and solidified his position.
It’s a big win for Hwang Dong-ha already. The absence of Lee and Will Crowe hasn’t left much of a void, thanks to Hwang’s performance. He’s basically got the stuff, and this year he’s seen his average velocity increase to the mid 140s. With a new forkball, he added velocity and angle to his slider, and he also has a changeup. He has proven himself to be a swan-shaped starter with an unflappable mentality on the mound.
Kia recently signed left-hander Cam Aldred as Will Crowe’s replacement. He could be in the starting rotation as early as next weekend. Lee Yi-ri has already returned and played one game. With Yang Hyeon-jong, James Nail, and Yoon Young-cheol, the team will have six starters, including Hwang Dong-ha. If the team goes with a five-man rotation, someone will have to give up a starting spot.
Yang and Nail are the one-two punch of the starting rotation. Lee Yi-ri will have to build up as a starter. Yoon Young-chul, who is in his second year, has the ability to go five innings or more, so it’s not easy to leave him out. Instead, 토토사이트 순위 the team could go with a 5+1 system, rotating the starters and giving them rest. What is clear is that the starting rotation is stronger. Hwang Dong-ha’s growth has been an incredible return.
