Manager Lee Seung-yuop: "Young Bullpen Kim Taek-yeon, Choi Ji-gang, Lee Byung-hun, Great Strength in First Half"

Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yuop (47) chose the 'first half team MVP (Most Valuable Player)' as the young bullpen trio Kim Taek-yeon (19), Choi Ji-kang (22), and Lee Byung-hun (20).

When we met at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 3rd, a day before the end of the first half of the 2024 KBO League professional baseball season, manager Lee said, "We had a difficult first half with injuries, but the players worked hard and got us here," and added, "If it weren't for the young bullpen players Kim Taek-yeon, Choi Ji-kang, and Lee Byung-hun, we wouldn't have been able to get here."

Doosan's bullpen is in first place in this category with an ERA of 4.05 as of the 2nd.

Even in a situation where the starting lineup is shaken due to injuries of foreign starters Raul Alcantara and Brandon Waddell, Doosan's bullpen has held up well, pitching the most innings (351⅓ innings) among the 10 teams. 무료슬롯사이트

In particular, right-handed 'super rookie' Kim Taek-yeon has established himself as a key player in Doosan's bullpen with 2 wins, 6 saves, 4 holds, and an ERA of 2.50.

Doosan's current closing pitcher is also Kim Taek-yeon.

Right-handed bullpen pitcher Choi Ji-kang has played a leading role for Doosan, going 2-1, 1-save, 12-hold, and an ERA of 2.70, while left-handed pitcher Lee Byung-hun has pitched well, going 5-7, and an ERA of 3.11.

Thanks to the performance of the young bullpen trio, Doosan is currently in 4th place, 4 games behind the 1st place KIA Tigers as of the 2nd.

It is a situation where they can aim to enter the top ranks.

While praising the young bullpen, the manager also comforted the veteran players by saying, “Our veteran players also worked well with the young players,” and “Our players did very well in the first half.”

In the second half, ‘reinforcements’ will also come.

Choi Seung-yong, who went back and forth between the starter and reliever last year, had 3 wins, 6 losses, 1 save, and an ERA of 3.97 in 31 games, was diagnosed with an elbow stress fracture early this year and focused on rehabilitation.

Choi Seung-yong, who did not rush his rehabilitation for a 'complete recovery', did his second live pitching since the injury on this day.

Manager Lee Seung-youp said, "Choi Seung-yong will do his third live pitching on the 7th and then move on to the next step," and "His rehabilitation has been progressing normally so far."

Doosan is predicting that Choi Seung-yong will return to the first team at 'the end of July'.