Can bad luck overlap like this in a row. Kiwoom, which is doing well this season, has another leak in its power due to injury.
Kiwoom announced the operation of outfielder Lee Hyung-jong on the 22nd.
In the first game of the doubleheader against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium on the 21st, Lee was hit on the left foot by a foul ball on the first pitch of the eighth inning. Lee complained of great pain and eventually went into the dugout on the sideline. Pinch-hitter Lim Ji-yeol was rushed in.
Lee was diagnosed with a broken columnar bone on the left instep through two medical examinations on Wednesday, the day after he was injured and the day after the injury. "Lee will undergo surgery on Saturday," the team said. It will take three months for him to return to practice after the surgery.
It is another injury that breaks Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki's heart.
Kiwoom has been suffering from string injuries even before the opening. Kiwoom, which prepared for this season in the U.S. and Taiwan, had players who left the camp due to injuries.
Infielder Kim Hui-jip was also injured once, and outfielder Lee Ju-hyeong and pitcher Jang Jae-young returned home early. Captain Kim Hye-seong even said, "I am saddened to see so many players injured."
The exhibition period was no exception. As Cho Young-gun, who was competing for the fifth starting pitcher, left the team due to a hamstring injury, Kiwoom had to find a replacement candidate in a hurry.
After the opening game, he suffered more serious injuries. Catcher Kim Dong-hun checked at two hospitals on April 8 and was found to need surgery for a torn elbow ligament. He has to do the surgery as soon as possible, and he will no longer be able to play this season.
Meanwhile, Lee Joo-hyung, who returned to the team on the 2nd, left the team due to a hamstring injury. The injury he wore before the opening was his left thigh and this time his right hamstring. Coach Hong, who did not listen lightly to the words "I have cramps in my leg," recommended a checkup and found the injury.
In addition, infielder Lee Jae-sang was put on an operating table on Wednesday after being hit by the fourth finger on the right hand while playing catch during defense training. The recovery process alone takes four weeks.
And this time, even veteran Lee Hyung-jong left.
Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki puts top priority on players' physical care. He refrained from taking action immediately when rookie players showed excessive force in exhibition games. Kiwoom was more cautious in managing players this year because it was reeling from injuries to key players, starting with Lee Jung-hoo last year.
On the 6th, when foreign pitcher Enmanuel de Heissus complained of discomfort in his legs after starting the game, the number of pitches was limited to 80 in the next game. Recently, when Kim Hye-sung developed shoulder pain, he made everyone rest at the double header against Doosan held on the 21st.
Even with this management, there are a number of injured people, so there is no way to take care of it. I worked hard until the test before the season, but it's not going well. Moreover, you can't blame anyone because it's an injury you suffered while trying to work hard.
Coach Hong feels considerable responsibility as the head coach. Having consultation time with players every day at Gocheok Dome during the off-season last winter, Hong sympathizes with the players more than anyone else. Whenever injured players come out, he swallowed his regret by saying, "How does he feel?" He refrains from mentioning the injury in case the player who is undergoing rehabilitation wants to return home in a hurry.
Again, coach Hong has another bruise on his mind. This is because the head coach knows best how hard Lee Hyung-jong prepared last winter.
Lee started preparing for this season in August last year when he joined the second team. He even said, "I tried my best while playing baseball."
In order to break the mold, he trained in a tanned style in Taiwan. "If a player likes a good hairstyle, that style is always welcome," Hong encouraged.
Lee also plays a central role in Kiwoom, which is full of young players. They are the few experienced players such as Lee Yong-gyu and Lee Won-seok. As he led younger players both on and off the field, Kiwoom has a more regrettable gap. Lee had a batting average of 0.268 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 21 games before he was injured. He had 13 consecutive hits, resulting in his hard work last winter.
Despite the injury, Kiwoom ranks third with 13 wins and 10 losses and a win rate of 0.565. For Kiwoom, it is important to maintain good performance so that players who have been injured do not blame themselves. Not only Hong's mind but also his shoulders have become heavier.
BY: 메이저사이트