Entering the final game before the All-Star break in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Thursday, the LG Twins found themselves in second place in the 10-team league, 3.5 games behind the Kia Tigers at 45-38-2 (wins-losses-ties). Depending on results by the two teams directly below them, the Samsung Lions and the Doosan Bears, the Twins, the 2023 Korean Series champions, could drop out of second place as the league reaches the midseason break. Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb believes his team hasn't been close to 100 percent all season, but will have a chance to compete at an even higher level once injured players return to action. "We've gone through so much adversity so far this season, but the players kept battling hard. I think we've put down a strong foundation to make a run at first place in the second half," Youm said in a media scrum before facing the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "No matter what the circumstances are, our goal is to finish in first place. That will never change. It doesn't matter what kind of difficulties we experience. As professionals, we have to let our results speak for themselves." The Twins had the best regular-season record last year and earned a direct trip to the Korean Series, where they defeated the KT Wiz in five games for their first title in 29 years. They have mostly retained their core group of players for this season but Youm noted that almost all of his position players have performed below expectations or their career norms this year. The manager, though, remained optimistic that things will turn for the better in the second half. "I think we had one good opportunity to ride some momentum in the first half but couldn't take advantage of that. But once our starting rotation is back to normal, then I think it's going to stabilize our bullpen as well," Youm said. "I don't think our lineup has been at its best even once this year yet, but I think that moment will come down the road." Youm said two key players out with injuries are scheduled to be back next week. Shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, the reigning Korean Series MVP who hasn't played since May 29, has been seeing rehab action in the minors and will rejoin the team once the Twins return from the break next Tuesday. Oh has been dealing with wrist and hamstring injuries. Starting pitcher Choi Won-tae, who was sidelined in the middle of June with an upper back injury, is scheduled to start on July 12. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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