Seoul:As the LG Twins gear up for their South Korean baseball postseason opener, manager Youm Kyoung-youb expressed a desire for a later start. The team's regular season ended in disappointment, falling short of securing a bye to the Korean Series due to a midsummer slump that saw them finish fourth.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Twins will face the fifth-seed Doosan Bears in the wild card round. Despite being the 2025 Korean Series champions, injuries have depleted the Twins' bullpen. Closer Son Ju-young is out with a neck injury, and You Young-chan's season ended in April due to elbow issues. Although former All-Star closer Go Woo-suk returned in September, he cannot play in the postseason.
Manager Youm plans to use a "closer-by-committee" strategy, focusing on matchups during save situations. Former MLB pitcher Carlos Carrasco is set to start for the Twins, while the Bears will rely on Gwak Been, who led the league in ERA and strikeouts.
Youm emphasized the importance of veteran players, including outfielder Hong Chang-ki, to lead the team. He also highlighted rookie first baseman Moon Jeong-bin, who finished second among rookies with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs, as a pivotal player in the lineup.
"He was our best hitter down the stretch, and I think he is capable of continuing that trend in the postseason," Youm mentioned, expecting Moon to become a core part of the team as he gains experience in the postseason.