‘Without Yang Hyeon-jong’ KIA begins to cover up the starting positions at spring camp

KIA Tigers whose ace is gone. Covering the bijou from the starters is expected to be a task at the spring camp.

KIA will start the 2021 spring camp schedule at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju from the 1st. Coach Matt Williams, who arrived in Korea on the 7th of last month and quickly completed self-isolation for two weeks, leads the spring camp from the start.

The absence of an ace is a variable. This is because Yang Hyeon-jong officialized overseas expansion on the 30th of last month. KIA, who prepared for the stay of Yang Hyun-jong until the end, must now prepare for the season with the ace missing.

Director Williams’ worries also deepened. This is because the pitcher has to fill the gap of a pitcher who can multiply more than two digits in one season and handle more than 170 innings.

Even though Brooks, who played the role of foreign ace with an average ERA of 2.50, recorded 11 wins and 4 losses last year, he succeeded in maintaining a minimum of power, but concerns about leaking the entire starting team have to follow.

New foreign pitcher Daniel Mengden has expectations that he was an active big leaguer, but it is difficult to predict the outcome as the adaptation to the KBO league is unknown.

In the end, securing a stable domestic starter during this camp is expected to be a hot topic.

First, the roles of Ki-young Lim and Lee Min-woo, who held the starting positions until last year, are expected to increase.

Lim Ki-young, who has settled as a KIA starting pitcher since 2017, showed that it is a credible card with 9 wins (10 losses) last year. However, due to the vacancy of Yang Hyeon-jong, the proportion has increased. Whether or not to achieve the double-digit multiplier in the first season of his career is a concern.

Lee Min-woo, who took a snow stamp as a starting pitcher last year, is also a strong player. Although he was greatly shaken in the second half of the season and stayed at 6 wins (10 losses), it is evaluated that he showed potential as a starting pitcher. The ups and downs pointed out as shortcomings and the last-minute deterioration of the season are their homework.

Jang Hyun-sik wearing a KIA uniform through a trade last year, right-hander Young-gun Kim Hyun-su, who joined as a reward player and announced his presence through a starting victory, and left-hander Young-gun Kim Yu-shin, who joined after completing military service, are also among the candidates for the starter. Lee Eui-ri, the left-hander, the first new pitcher nominated in 2021, is also Hubo.

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