SEOUL: The LG Twins are facing uncertainty over the availability of their key reliever, Elieser Hernandez, as they prepare for a critical elimination game in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. Although technically available, Hernandez’s participation remains doubtful for the Saturday matchup at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, where the team trails 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hernandez has been a standout performer for the Twins during the postseason, transitioning from a starter to an effective reliever. In the previous series against the KT Wiz, Hernandez delivered 7 1/3 shutout innings and tallied 10 strikeouts over five games. His efforts continued in the second round against the Samsung Lions, where he threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3, securing a 1-0 victory.
Despite Hernandez’s impressive performances, Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb expressed caution regarding his use in Game 4, even after weather conditions postponed the game to Saturday. Hernandez w
as not included on the inactive list for the game, sparking speculation about his potential appearance. However, the pitcher remained uncertain about his involvement, stating, “I don’t know. I cannot respond to that.”
Hernandez’s pregame routine included over an hour of treatment on his right arm, with the pitcher acknowledging some fatigue but affirming his mental readiness. “I just feel a little tired but mentally, I’m prepared for everything,” he said.
In the event Hernandez remains sidelined, Youm indicated that left-hander Son Ju-young is set to assume his role as the bullpen’s first option for multiple innings. Son previously started Game 2, delivering 93 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. “Ideally, we’ll have him at the start of a new inning,” Youm mentioned. “If he pitches well, we will keep him on as long as we can without any restriction.”