Seoul: Back for his second straight season in South Korea, Doosan Bears ace Zach Logue may once again be asked to do the heavy lifting at the front of the rotation. The left-hander is taking it all in stride, though, with full conviction in his own abilities and also those of his teammates.

According to Yonhap News Agency, in 2025, Logue was the only Bears pitcher to win at least 10 games and was also the only qualified pitcher with a sub-3.00 ERA, ranking fifth in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with 2.81. The American pitcher also ranked among the league leaders with 176 innings pitched (fifth) and 156 strikeouts (seventh). Logue didn't begin that season as his team's No. 1 starter, with Cole Irvin, a fellow first-year import, getting the honor. Amid Irvin's inconsistent season, Logue ended up as the Bears' top starter.

The Opening Day assignment eluded Logue again this year, as Chris Flexen, who previously pitched for the club in 2020 and returned for his second stint, received the nod. Flexen lost his season debut on March 28 when he allowed three runs on two hits and five walks in four innings. The right-hander then hit the sidelines with a shoulder injury after lasting just one inning in his second outing last Friday. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.

Other starting pitchers have had issues too. Right-hander Gwak Been, the Bears' top Korean-born starter, has been roughed up to the tune of 10 runs on 12 hits in only 8 2/3 innings. Left-hander Choi Seung-yong has allowed seven runs in eight innings across his first two starts of the season.

Logue has done his part to keep the rotation afloat. He limited the Samsung Lions to two runs on four hits in seven innings on March 31 and then fired six shutout innings for his first win of the season Sunday against the Hanwha Eagles. Logue said Flexen's injury and struggles of his rotation mates have not necessarily added pressure on him.

"I try not to think of it that way," he said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday. "Obviously, Chris getting hurt was definitely a blow to the team and the rotation. But I just try to go out there and give us a chance to win every time, trying not to think of it like it's all on my shoulders. I think we still have a good team. We've got other good arms in the rotation and the bullpen. So I believe that we'll end up pitching well this year."

Logue said feeling more comfortable on and off the field, now that he's in for his second rodeo in the KBO, has also helped. "I think the approaches of a lot of KBO hitters are a little bit different than what we see in the States. So some of what works for me in the States may not work as well for me over here, and vice versa," he said. "Having a full year and seeing what works for me is definitely big and helps me make that transition a little bit easier early in the year."

Logue said he has figured out ways to best handle pesky KBO hitters. "It's impressive how well they foul off pitches with two strikes. It is tough to put those guys away," he said. "I think you've just got to challenge those guys and don't try to be too cute with them. Just try to attack them, and hopefully, they'll put it in play early and kind of see what happens. I think just challenging hitters is the best way to go overall."

In his first two starts, Logue has thrown fewer two-seam fastballs and changeups than a year ago while increasing his usage of four-seam fastballs, cutters, and sliders. Logue said veteran catcher Yang Eui-ji, widely considered among the KBO's greatest game callers, has played a crucial part in his success. "I'm lucky to have Eui-ji behind the plate. I think he's really smart," Logue said. "He knows his hitters. He's been around this league for a long time. I kind of take his lead for the most part. He does a great job, so whatever he calls, I like to throw it most of the time."

Earlier this week, the Bears signed Wes Benjamin, a veteran of three KBO seasons with the KT Wiz, as a six-week replacement for Flexen. Benjamin, who went 31-18 with a 3.74 ERA from 2022 to 2024, hasn't pitched in a competitive game yet this year and will have to get in some work in the minors before joining the Bears, likely in two weeks. Logue, who has never crossed paths with Benjamin over their major league and minor league careers, offered that his new rotation mate should stick to his guns.

"I think mostly it just comes down to trusting yourself and trusting your stuff," Logue said. "He was good for a reason when he played here before, so I don't think there's any reason to change anything he did. So just attack guys with his stuff, and he'll figure out the things that work for him."