The Doosan Bears called pitcher Lee Young-ha, who was acquitted in a trial related to school violence, to the first team. It is an alternative to Jeong Cheol-won, who recently went down to the second team after apologizing for the WBC late-night drinking controversy.메이저놀이터
Doosan registered pitcher Lee Young-ha ahead of the Suwon KT WIZ match on June 3. Lee Young-ha took the place where pitcher Jeong Cheol-won was canceled the previous day.
Previously, a media outlet and a YouTube channel reported that some players who competed in the WBC tournament on May 30 had been drinking late at night in Tokyo, Japan, where the first round of the finals was held. Kim Gwang-hyeon (SSG Landers), Lee Yong-chan (NC Dinos), and Jeong Cheol-won, who admitted to drinking late at night, held a press conference to apologize on June 1.
Doosan pitcher Lee Young-ha was registered for the first team entry for the first time in the season on June 3 after being acquitted of school violence. Photo = Reporter Cheon Jeong-hwan
Jeong Cheol-won said, “First of all, as a professional baseball player, I bow my head in apology for disappointing baseball fans and everyone by wearing the national team Taegeuk mark. On March 10th, during the WBC tournament, we had a drink after the match against Japan. He acted embarrassingly in a situation where many people were disappointed with the poor performance of the national team. I sincerely apologize. It was a careless act with no excuses. I am really ashamed of myself.”
Next, Jung Cheol-won said, “I should have acted more responsibly as I wore the honorable medal of the Taegeuk mark. However, the fans’ expectations and trust were betrayed. I will diligently participate in KBO investigations in the future, and I will gladly accept any punishment or reprimand.”
Doosan did not expunge Jeong Cheol-won immediately on June 1st. However, on the following day, on the 2nd, after discussions with the club and the field, it was decided to cancel Jeong Cheol-won.
Doosan Bench chose Lee Young-ha as an alternative to Jeong Cheol-won, who played the role of setup man in the 8th inning. Lee Young-ha went through a trial for the past nine months on suspicion of school violence, and was acquitted in the first trial on May 31. Lee Young-ha, whose contract was immediately converted to a full-time player, even made one appearance in the Futures League.
Jeong Cheol-won, who apologized for the WBC late-night drinking controversy, was removed from the first team. Photo = Reporter Lee Han-joo
Coach Lee Seung-yeop met with reporters before the game on the 3rd and said, “Lee Young-ha himself said he was fine, but I didn’t register for the first team right away because I feared that he would lack a sense of actual fighting. However, as Jeong Cheol-won left, we had no alternative. For the first start, I try to put it in a slightly more comfortable situation so that I can pitch without any pressure. If he throws a good ball like he did when he started in the Futures League, he will be able to fill the vacancy of Jeong Cheol-won.”
Doosan has a big gap in the current starting lineup. In fact, in addition to foreign pitcher Dylan Pyle, who is suffering from a long-term injury, Kwak Bin and Choi Won-joon were also excluded from the first team entry due to back pain and sluggish performance, respectively. For the time being, it is an atmosphere where you have to leave out the 2nd to 4th starters and endure.
Is there any possibility that Lee Young-ha, who has experience in the starting rotation in the past, will join the starting lineup? Coach Lee’s point of view is that it is difficult to see ‘starter Lee Young-ha’ this season right now.
Manager Lee said, “I think Lee Young-ha should take on the role of the bullpen this season. I think there is too little time to prepare for the start. To increase the number of pitches, you have to throw 3 or 4 more times, and then more than a month passes. This season, it would be nice if he could play the role of the middle set-up man well.”
Meanwhile, Doosan played against KT in Suwon on the 3rd, Kim Dae-han (right fielder) – Jung Soo-bin (center fielder) – Yang Eui-ji (designated hitter) – Yang Seok-hwan (1st baseman) – Heo Kyung-min (3rd baseman) – Song Seung-hwan (left fielder) – Park Gye-beom (shortstop) -Ahn Seung-Han (catcher)-Lee Yoo-Chan (2nd baseman) in the starting batting order to face KT starting pitcher Wes Benjamin. The starting pitcher for Doosan is Kim Dong-ju.
Manager Lee said, “Considering the selection of the opponent’s left-hander, Jae-hwan Kim and Rojas, who have not been good at hitting recently, have been omitted. It is difficult for Yang Eui-ji to play catcher defense until tomorrow. I think I will have to check my condition again next week on Tuesday.”