LG Twins Release Setup Man Yacksel Rios Amid Losing Skid
Quick Look
- Defending KBO champions LG Twins surprisingly released setup man Yacksel Rios, acquired just a month ago, despite his strong performance.
- The move comes as the team faces a five-game losing streak and seeks a new foreign starting pitcher to bolster its injury-depleted rotation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The LG Twins, defending South Korean baseball champions, released setup man Yacksel Rios a month after acquiring him, despite his 3.63 ERA and five holds in 14 outings. This surprising move comes as the team is on a season-worst five-game losing skid and seeks to bolster its injury-depleted rotation with a new starting pitcher.
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- In a surprising move, the defending South Korean baseball champions LG Twins released setup man Yacksel Rios on Tuesday, about a month after acquiring the fireballer from Puerto Rico.
The Twins said they are in the final stages of a contract negotiation with a new foreign pitcher to take Rios' spot in their staff.
The Twins acquired Rios on June 3, choosing to replace struggling starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos with the bullpen arm. Rios made his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) debut a week later and went on to post a 3.63 ERA with five holds and two saves in 14 outings.
Rios struck out 17 batters in 17 1/3 innings, flashing overpowering fastballs that quickly earned the praise of his manager Youm Kyoung-youb, who once touted Rios as one of the KBO's top relief pitchers.
However, mired in a season-worst five-game losing skid, during which they fell from first to third in the standings, the Twins are rolling the dice by giving up on the league's hardest-throwing reliever who was averaging over 157 kilometers per hour with his fastball.
The Twins are expected to sign a starting pitcher to bolster their injury-depleted rotation.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
LG Twins will sign a new foreign starting pitcher.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who is the new foreign pitcher the Twins are negotiating with?
