LG Twins put Chirinos on IL with elbow injury, weigh replacement

LG Twins starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos was placed on the injured list Wednesday after receiving a right elbow injection, sidelining him for at least one month, the Korea Times reported.

The loss of Chirinos, the team's Opening Day starter in both 2025 and 2026, leaves a significant hole in a rotation already struggling early in the season, pressuring the Twins' front office to act quickly under KBO injury-replacement rules.

Manager Youm Kyoung-youb confirmed the injury after Chirinos complained of pain following a bullpen session Monday. "He played catch Tuesday and said he didn't think he'd be able to pitch this week," Youm told the Korea Times.

Chirinos was dominant in his debut KBO season in 2025, going 13-6 with a 3.31 ERA in 30 starts. This year he has struggled, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1-2 record across four starts, combining for just 10 innings over his past two outings.

Youm said the club initially considered simply skipping a rotation turn. "At first, we thought about skipping one turn in the rotation and not taking him off the roster. But with an elbow issue like this, we decided there was no point waiting around much longer. We hoped that he would be able to stay healthy for the full season, and now we have to figure out how to manage this situation," he said.

The team scheduled a bullpen day for Thursday, with reliever Yi Jung-yong opening in Chirinos' place.

KBO rules allow teams to sign foreign players on short-term contracts when a player is sidelined for six or more weeks. Four of the league's 10 clubs have already invoked that rule this season. "Our front office always moves quickly in situations like this. I understand we have several options on the table," Youm said, according to the Korea Times.

Chirinos received a similar elbow injection last summer ahead of the All-Star break, raising durability concerns heading into the stretch of the season.