Baseball
Baseball
KIA Tigers Consider bullpen Role for Struggling Starter Lee Eui-ri Amid Closer Instability
The KIA Tigers are exploring a temporary bullpen role for left-handed pitcher Lee Eui-ri, who recently made his first relief appearance of the season after struggling as a starter. This move comes as the team grapples with an unstable closer situation, having seen multiple pitchers unable to secure the ninth-inning job.
Lee Eui-ri, 24, pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one hit, in a relief outing against SSG on the 16th. This was his 11th appearance this season, which has otherwise been marked by a 1-6 record and a 9.17 ERA. Manager Lee Beom-ho noted the quality of Lee Eui-ri’s pitches, particularly his spin, and suggested the pitcher felt less pressure regarding walks in shorter stints. Control has been a significant issue for Lee Eui-ri, who boasts a fastball up to 150 km/h but has averaged 8.17 walks per nine innings this year.
The team’s closing duties have been in flux, with Jeong Hae-young, the initial closer, sent to the minor league early in the season due to poor performance. Seong Young-tak then took over, but his effectiveness also waned by the end of the first half. Manager Lee Beom-ho has indicated a collective bullpen approach for the final seven games before the All-Star break, aiming for flexibility based on game situations.
Manager Lee Beom-ho expressed that while Lee Eui-ri will continue in the bullpen for now, potentially in one-inning or long relief roles, his ideal position remains a starter. He values Lee Eui-ri’s arm talent, noting his ability to throw 150 km/h for 100 pitches, a rare asset. The Tigers even sent Lee Eui-ri for short-term training in Japan from June 10th to June 28th.
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