Seoul:Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyong has revealed that American pitcher Zach Logue will transition to a bullpen role for the upcoming South Korean baseball postseason.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Bears have secured the fifth seed in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and will face either the Kia Tigers or the LG Twins in the wild card round starting Wednesday. The Bears must win two consecutive games on the road to advance, while their opponent requires only a tie or a victory in two attempts.
Manager Kim emphasized the importance of winning the wild card round and expressed a need for flexibility in pitching. He stated that every available pitcher, except for the potential Game 2 starter, might be needed to handle various scenarios that arise during the games. Kim specified Gwak Been as the Game 1 starter, with either Wes Benjamin or Choi Min-seok likely for Game 2 if necessary.
Zach Logue, who had mixed results this season with an 8-7 record and a 4.27 ERA, attributed his performance to the growing familiarity of KBO hitters with his pitching. Despite this, he remains eager to contribute to the team's postseason efforts in any capacity. Logue expressed excitement about the postseason opportunity and the strength of his team's pitching staff, which he believes can compete against any opponent.
Logue has prior experience as a reliever, having pitched in such roles both in the major and minor leagues in the United States. Manager Kim noted that Logue volunteered for bullpen duty and stressed the importance of strategic pitching decisions to secure victories in the wild card round.
Kim also mentioned that the identity of their opponent, whether it be the Tigers or the Twins, is of less concern than the Bears' own preparations and performance. He highlighted the unpredictability of baseball and the necessity of focusing on the team's strengths as the fifth seed.