Concerns have become reality. The LG Twins were put in a situation where they had to operate a starting rotation without foreign pitcher Adam Plutko for the time being.
Prior to the cancellation of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League season 11 game against the Doosan Bears, which was scheduled to be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 29th, LG coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop explained Plutko’s current physical condition.
Previously, Plutko started against the Changwon NC Dinos on the 26th and came down from the mound after recording 4 innings, 6 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 run. His reason was his left adductor (inner thigh muscle) discomfort, and upon examination he was diagnosed with a ‘left pelvic bone contusion’. It seems that it will take about 4-5 weeks before his return.
Plutko returned after taking a break for more than two weeks after being excluded from the first-team entry for a rest last month before the end of the first half, but after one start, he suffered from a cold and high fever in late July, so he could not climb the starting mound. Soon after, he was confirmed with Corona 19, and his return was further delayed.
In fact, Plutko, who took a breather for about a month, planned to digest the season without skipping the rotation for the rest of the period, but LG’s plans went wrong due to this injury. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop expressed regret, saying, “Wouldn’t Plutko come out at the end of the season?” and then said, “It can’t be helped. The regular season doesn’t go back as expected. I think we have to solve each game well under the given conditions.”
Looking back, LG had to suffer from Plutko at the end of the season last year as well. That year, Plutko started against SSG Landers in Incheon on September 25 and was replaced after facing only one batter due to symptoms of dampness, and then prepared for fall baseball without appearing in actual matches. He didn’t even play practice games, and after checking with bullpen pitching and live pitching, he went straight into the postseason.
In the end, Plutko, who was unable to fully develop his sense of actual fighting, came out as a starting pitcher in the second game of the playoffs against Kiwoom Heroes and was sluggish with 8 hits, 1 strikeout and 6 runs (4 earned) in 1⅔ innings, and was then knocked out early. LG, who succeeded, handed over the flow to Kiwoom with a defeat that day. In the end, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Plutco’s sluggishness changed the flow of the series, so it was a somewhat regrettable part for LG.토토사이트
Nevertheless, LG decided to accompany Plutko for one more season after the postseason. The contribution of the regular season could not be ignored, but as the same situation was repeated at a similar time, LG’s concerns are bound to grow.
No matter how fast, Plutco’s return is expected to be in late September or early October. LG, who has to forget the name Plutko for a while, is looking forward to left-hander Kim Yun-sik who will fill the void. He has been sluggish with an average ERA of 5.29 in 11 games, 49⅓ innings, 3 wins and 4 losses in the first team this season. After having time to reorganize in the 2nd team, he played Futures League games from the end of last month and raised his sense of actual combat. On the 23rd, his most recent appearance, Sangmu (National Sports Corps), his overall performance was 3 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts, and no runs.
Director Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “Kim Yun-sik will do well. I think it’s getting better. I had enough time to prepare.” In the end, the difference between whether there is a gap or not depends on what role those pitchers come and play.” Can LG, which has set the goal of ‘top challenge’, overcome the current crisis?