It’s hard to see a ‘complete’ Samsung. As the injured returned, another set of injuries struck. Samsung suffered another power leak when star outfielder Koo Ja-rook (30) and infielder Kim Dong-jin (26) went down with hamstring injuries one after the other. 스포츠토토
Samsung clinched the series with a 7-2 come-from-behind win over Hanwha in Daejeon on the third. Yoon Jung-bin, who came on as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, hit his first career home run for a tying solo shot, followed by a two-run double by pinch-hitter Kim Tae-kun in the eighth for a four-run big inning.
Park Jin-man, the Samsung manager, couldn’t be happy with the success of his two pinch-hitters. Koo Ja-rook and Kim Dong-jin were replaced by hamstring injuries during the game, and the decision was made to remove them from the four-day roster.
With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Koo Ja-rook hit a single up the middle off Hanwha closer Park Sang-won for the game-winning run, but injured his right hamstring while fielding in the bottom of the inning. He went down while sprinting to catch a fly ball hit by Moon Hyun-bin into the right-field foul area. Grabbing the back of his right thigh in pain, Koo was carried off the field on a stretcher.
A Samsung official said, “We suspect a micro-injury to his right hamstring. He will undergo a medical examination in Daegu on the 5th.” Last year, Koo also missed five weeks from 15 June to 21 July with a left hamstring injury.
Koo has played in all 49 games for the team this year, batting 29-for-54 (183 at-bats) with three home runs, 27 RBIs, 26 walks and an .834 OPS. The injury is especially disappointing as he was in the midst of a hot streak, going 4-for-8 with three doubles and three RBIs against Hanwha on 2-3.
Before Koo, infielder Kim Dong-jin was replaced with the same right hamstring injury. He felt pain while running to third base after hitting a grounder to third in the second inning. He was replaced by infielder Ahn Ju-hyung in the third inning and, along with Koo, was placed on the four-day disabled list.
Kim Dong-jin has shown excellent contact ability, batting 3-for-5 with 11 RBIs in 31 at-bats in nine games since his call-up to the first team on May 25. He was also named to the starting line-up at third base against Hanwha on 3 March, when main second baseman Kim Ji-chan returned from a hamstring injury. Park Jin-man said, “He has been making mistakes in defence, but he is a talented hitter. Our batting line-up has been stagnant, so I used Kim Dong-jin as a starter to be aggressive,” Park said, showing his faith in the player, but he left after just one at-bat with a sore hamstring.
Samsung has had a series of injuries on the field this season, both big and small. After losing catcher Kim Jae-sung (side), outfielders Kim Hyun-joon (fibula) and Kim Tae-hoon (ankle) to injuries before the season, the team lost Kim Dong-yeop and Kim Ji-chan to hamstring injuries after the opening day. With Kim Hyun-jun and Kim Dong-yeop returning to the first team since the middle of last month and Kim Ji-chan and Kim Jae-sung returning to the first team on the 3rd against Hanwha, the batting line-up finally seemed to be at full strength, but the departures of Koo Ja-rook and Kim Dong-jin created another emergency.
“As the season progresses, injured players return and new injuries occur. Injuries have a devastating effect not only on the player but also on the team. I hope you will take responsibility as a professional athlete and do your best to manage your physical condition.” He also sent an urgent message to the players.