Lotte, first place in practice game, “Surprise No. 1” … The opening pick is ‘blinking’

Professional Baseball Opening Media Day is usually a place to pitch initial pitchers before the opening.

On Media Day this year, similarly, coaches from each team pulled out start cards for the opening game on the fifth inning, but Lotte, who took first place in the practice game, was the only one to could not reveal it.

“We still have to decide whether we will be foreign or domestic players,” Lotte’s coach Heo Mun-hoe said. “Dan Strayley’s body is not good. Sorry. Adrian Samson was originally expected to start, but Samson recently boarded a plane to the United States due to his father’s illness. He is expected to return to the period before and after opening, but must be quarantined for two weeks after entering Korea Strayley, who was cited as an alternative, was even reported to have poor waist condition.

Director Huh said: “I think it will be decided on the night of the 4th.” KT coach Lee Kang-cheol, who is facing Lotte at the Suwon house opening ceremony, introduced Audrey Samer Despine as the first starter and said, “Strike and Samson can’t see directly, Park Se- Woong and Seo Joon-won know that. ” I will trust our team and go. “

It has been decided to open all four stadiums except the Suwon KT-Lotte Exhibition. LG and Doosan, which have “Jamsil Rivals” from the beginning, will send Chauchan and Raul Alcantara respectively. Doosan picked up Alcatara in the second year of the KBO League, although Chris Plexen showed up in a practice match. Doosan Kim, director of Doosan, explained: “Alkantara has experience and will be able to serve as the first starter.”

KIA, who takes Kiwoom to his home in Gwangju, failed to beat Yang Hyun-jong, the “ace national representative.” Kiwoom’s start against Yang Hyunjong is Jake Brigham. In the Daegu Samsung-NC match, Baek Jeong-hyun (Samsung) and Drew Luchinsky (NC) will be on the battlefield. Samsung director Huh Sam-young asked if Baek Jeong-hyun, who was toxic to North Carolina rather than a foreign pitcher, as a “target team,” said, “Baek Jeong-hyun’s face was the better. Foreign players prepare for the next schedule. “

SK Nick Kingham and Hanwha Warwick Surfold collide at SK Happy Dream Stadium in Incheon, where the official opening game is being held. SK manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “I hope Kingham brings joy to the team with a good pitch,” and Hanwha Han-deok, Hanwha’s manager, promised that “as long as I wait, I will pay (the fans) like a victory”.

The total number of native teams to scale the mound before the opening of the year is 3, the highest since 4 in 2016. In 2017, the 10 teams started as foreign pitchers, and in 2018, Samsung Yoon Sung-hwan was the only one to start the opening match. Last year, the native selection was SK Kim Kwang-hyun (St. Louis) and Yang Hyun-jong. However, this year, the initial makeup changed as foreign players who entered Korea at the end of Crown 19 segregated for two weeks.

By Ji-Seop Kim, reporter [email protected]