LG “Choi Won-tae, next appearance, if not good, consider expungement, rest”

LG Twins manager Yoon Kyung-yeop revealed his concerns about homegrown starting pitcher Choi Won-tae.”If he’s not good in his next appearance, I’ll either remove him from the roster or extend his time and look at (the rotation),” Yim told reporters ahead of the KBO’s KT Wiz game at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon on June 6.The previous day, Choi allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits (one home run) and one walk in three innings against KT.When the game was delayed for 104 minutes due to heavy rain in the top of the fourth inning, Choi naturally turned the ball over to his bullpen.Choi’s struggles are not taken lightly, as he was acquired in a bold trade last July to help LG win its first Korean Series title in 29 years.In exchange for Choi, LG gave the Kiwoom Heroes two pitching prospects, Lee Ju-hyung and Kim Dong-gyu, and a first-round pick in the 2024 rookie draft.Choi threw six scoreless innings in his debut on July 30, but struggled in August, posting a 9.00 ERA in four games and 21 innings.The bad luck continued in his last start on 10 days’ rest.Reliever Yoo Young-chan, whose pace has slowed with five runs in three innings in his last three games, will also get a day or two off.Yoo said, “I used to be a pitcher who was busy throwing strikes, but not anymore. But if you want to go to the next level, you have to be able to see the corners of the (strike zone) and fight in favorable counts.”As for closer Go Woo-seok, who saved a one-run victory the previous day, Yeom said, “He showed the characteristics of a save king in an important game and situation,” and thanked coaches Kim 스포츠토토링크 Kyung-tae and Kim Kwang-sam for preparing him quickly.