Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki sighed deeply as he reported the injury to a player. It was difficult because there were so many injured people in the team that was already lacking, but another important player left the team. That was unfortunate, too. He broke his toe after being hit by a ball.
Kiwoom veteran outfielder Lee Yong-kyu played as the first designated hitter at a game against SSG held at Gocheok Sky Dome on Sunday. However, he was hit on the right foot by SSG starter Drew Anderson’s curveball at his second at-bat in the third inning. Unable to avoid this, Lee was in pain. The trainer came out to check his condition, and Lee slowly started walking out towards the first base. Up until now, I was worried, but I thought it was not a serious injury.메이저놀이터
However, he was not in a good condition to play in the game. When the follow-up hitter walked, he went to the second base and gave up the game in the end. Rather than running home, he went straight to the hospital. CT scans revealed a fracture in the third toe of his right foot. Hong said, “Although I have to undergo another checkup, I was diagnosed that it takes five weeks for me to recover at the first diagnosis.”
We need to see the results of the reexamination, but chances are slim that the apparent fracture will make a misdiagnosis. In a case of a fracture, it usually takes that long to recover from the injury. It is difficult to come back until the end of the regular season, considering the steps to improve conditions afterwards. Coach Hong said, “Season out” in his statement. It is another blow to Kiwoom’s team.
With Jang Jae-young and Ronnie Dawson collapsing one after another, Lee might have been the last bastion. He had a batting average of 0.306 and an on-base percentage of 0.429 in 60 games this season. He had good contact with players, and the on-base percentage was amazing. He is a batter who constantly watches balls, but considering that he is 39 years old, it was a remarkable achievement. He is a good player with good pioneering skills, but with the introduction of the automatic ball determination system, he has been praised for reviving his strengths. He had 31 walks in 60 games alone.
Unfortunately, however, Lee ended the season due to his injury. For Kiwoom, this represents a sigh of relief. Lee Yong-kyu has been a player who opens up opportunities for the team’s batters by banking on his high on-base percentage. As Kiwoom tends to put the best hitters in his team to the front, when Lee gets on base, he leads to a root to maximize his scoring ability. In fact, Lee opened his team’s offense this year by posting a batting average of 0.301 at No. 1 and a batting average of 0.323 at No. 9. However, even Lee is not in the team’s best position.
With the latest injury, Lee’s next move is also expected to draw keen attention. In principle, Lee can apply for free agent status. However, some watchers say that his eligibility will not be extended. Lee acquired the qualification last year, but eventually gave up the qualification and signed an annual salary contract with his team.
If so, it will be his third FA and become a C-grade player. It has the charm of having no reward players. However, Lee Yong-kyu is also willing to finish his active career at Kiwoom, and he also has clear risks of going to the market at the age of 40. For now, he seems more likely to sit at the contract table with his team than with an FA.
For Kiwoom, unless Lee Yong-kyu announces his retirement, there is a high possibility that he will stay. He showed good performance this year. He also proved that he is a good hitter in the ABS world. He suggested the possibility that he will be able to do his part, even if he is not performing full-time as he used to. As he is highly regarded for his leadership within his team, he proved his eligibility to accompany him. Lee Yong-kyu will soon turn 40 next year. Attention is focusing on whether Lee, a come-from-behind veteran, who played in 2021 KBO league games, recorded 2,132 hits, and scored 1,206 points, will be able to add to this record next year.