Twins manager buoyed by early returns from Australian pitcher Wells
2026.04.16 17:59
Twins manager buoyed by early returns from Australian pitcher Wells
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- With the South Korean baseball league having introduced the Asian quota system this year, Lachlan Wells, the Australian left-hander for the LG Twins, has been among the best of the group so far.
Asian and Australian players with prior experience in an Asian league are eligible under the new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) rule. Wells, initially signed as a bullpen option, has thrived in his three spot starts, much to manager Youm Kyoung-youb's delight.
With an incumbent starter Son Ju-young sidelined with an oblique injury, Wells has pitched to an excellent 2.12 ERA over 17 innings, along with a 1-1 record.
Wells was the hard-luck loser Wednesday against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, where he allowed just one run on three hits in seven innings, but his teammates failed to score in a 2-0 defeat.
Youm said Thursday that Wells, who pitched for another KBO team, Kiwoom Heroes, last year, said prior experience has done wonders for the Australian.
"I am sure it has been a big help," Youm said in his pregame media availability. "He has a good deception in his delivery, and his command has been solid. It has been a great signing by our front office, and my job is to put him in a place to succeed."
Youm said Son will begin playing catch Friday and could be back by the end of April. Once Son rejoins the rotation, then Wells will serve as a swingman out of the bullpen, someone who can eat up multiple innings in a pinch or cover some high-leverage innings late in a close game.
"If a starter gets knocked around early, then we will have Wells available to take over right away," Youm said. "There is a huge difference between a team that has that kind of option and a team that doesn't. Some teams can't remove their starters even after they give up four runs in the first inning because they don't want to tax their bullpen too much. But Wells can step into those situations."
The Twins will have another versatile left-handed reinforcement on the way in Kim Yun-sik, who will be discharged from the military next Tuesday. Kim has made 54 starts and 45 relief appearances over his career.
"Once Yun-sik joins us next week, it will make our bullpen so much deeper," Youm noted. "These bullpen pitchers can add three or four more wins over the course of the season."
The Twins are currently leading the KBO with a 3.56 ERA and have also allowed the fewest walks with 50 in 134 innings.
Without divulging much, Youm said he has altered his pitchers' training routines so that they would all improve their control.
"I've also told them if they start giving up walks, they will end up in the minor league," Youm said with a smile.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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