As a manager, I gave him a chance”.

LG Twins manager Yoon Kyung-yeop sent a “warning” message to starting pitcher Kim Yoon-sik, who has been showing major ups and downs.

Before the game against the NC Dinos in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Feb. 2, Yeom advised Kim Yoon-sik, who was announced as the starter for the day, to “reduce his ups and downs.” Before this day, Kim had appeared in nine games with a 3-2 record and a 4.58 ERA.

In May, Yoon-sik had a rough month, allowing one run in six innings, five runs in three innings, no runs in six innings, and five runs in 4⅓ innings. While Kim Yun-sik struggled and Lee Min-ho was on the disabled list with elbow flexor pain, Lim Chan-kyu, who opened the season with a long relief stint, rebounded with four wins and a 1.13 ERA in four games in May.

Yoon said, “Yoon Sik-shik should have been in the No. 3 spot, but he didn’t make it, so (Im) Chan-kyu came in. Now he has to do well in the No. 2 spot. Or he should go to the five and fight with (Lee) Min-ho. As a coach, I gave him enough chances,” he said firmly.

Kim Yun-sik has two chances left because on December 12, his starting partner Lee Sang-young will join the team after leaving his job at Sangsung. Yeom plans to give him the same opportunity as the other starters, including Kim Yun-sik, Lee Min-ho, Lee Ji-gang, and Kang Hyo-jong. The LG starting rotation will then be Casey Kelly, Adam Plutko, and Chan-kyu Lim, with Lee Min-ho, Lee Sang-young, Kim Yun-sik, and Lee Ji-gang competing for the spot.

Kim Yoon-sik took the loss in the NC on April 2, giving up two runs on four hits (one home run) in five innings with four strikeouts and three walks. Although he didn’t get blown out, his performance wasn’t enough to satisfy Yoon. He was shaky in the first inning when he walked Martin after giving up a double to Park Gun-woo, and in the second inning, he gave up a single to Kim Joo-won and allowed a stolen base.

After struggling through the fourth inning, including walking Seo Ho-cheol on a hit-by-pitch in the third, Kim Yun-sik gave up a walk to Kim Joo-won in the fifth after his team took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, and after a wild pitch put runners on first and second, he was hit by a two-run homer by Son Asub. LG brought up Yoo Young-chan to chase Kim Yoon-sik in the sixth inning, even though Kim had thrown 81 pitches. 스포츠토토

Kim Yun-sik is expected to be put to the final test on the 8th against Gochuk Kiwoom if his normal rotation continues. Depending on the outcome of the game, Kim Yun-sik could keep his spot or be given a chance to “returning soldier” Lee Sang-young. LG is currently overstretched in both the starting rotation and bullpen. The team can afford it, but Kim Yun-sik can’t afford it anymore.