Starting with Will Crow, Lee Eui-ri, Yoon Young-cheol, James Nail, and Eric Stoute, the Kia Tigers have been agonized over a series of injuries sustained by their starters from the beginning to the end of the season. It is surprising that the Tigers has overwhelmingly won the regular season title. Even Stoute, who was brought from a Taiwanese professional baseball team, said goodbye to a hamstring injury that he did not expect. Attention is focusing on whether Stoute will be able to stay in the KBO league next year.
Kia officially announced on September 20 that it was diagnosed with damage to the hamstring as a result of the stout examination.스포츠토토
Stout joined the team as a temporary replacement for James Nail, who suffered a broken jaw at the end of August. Stout, who played in the Taiwanese professional baseball league this season, signed with KIA for a total annual salary of $45,000 (about 60 million won).
Stout, who was registered in the first division entry on the 1st, made his KBO League debut immediately in the match against the Daegu Samsung Lions held that day. Stout was sluggish with four hits (two homers) with six strikeouts and two outs and five runs in four innings.
However, Stout took the start against the Kiwoom Heroes in Gwangju on the 7th and showed a twist in winning his first KBO league debut with six hits, eight strikeouts and three outs in five innings. Since then, Stout has gradually gained stability against Kiwoom in Gwangju on the 14th with three hits, six strikeouts, two outs and one run (not earned) in 5.1 innings.
And Stout started against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 19th. On this day, Stout took the mound even though his teammate Eric Lauer was in the order of taking the mound. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho told reporters before the game on the 19th, “Lauer’s pitching has been postponed due to symptoms in which he can hear nails. Stout will take the mound first instead of Lauer.”
Stout took a four-day break after taking the mound against Kiwoom in Gwangju on the 14th and stood on the starting mound on the day. Stout, who took the mound in the bottom of the first inning with two runs in the top of the first inning, started off neatly by blocking three consecutive misfires that led to Jung Soo-bin, Heo Kyung-min and Yang Eui-ji.
However, the stout failed to overcome the crisis in the bottom of the second inning. After receiving a double from leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan in the bottom of the second inning, he gave up another RBI double to Jarrod, allowing his first run. With two outs and runners on second base, the stout faced Kim Jae-ho’s timely RBI single, and turned the tables. Afterwards, he gave up a walk against Jung Soo-bin, who was greatly shaken by Lee Yoo-chan’s timely double.
He even suffered an injury while pitching. While facing Jeong Su-bin, the stout threw the last ball and collapsed due to pain in his left thigh. He tried to pitch on the mound to keep throwing the ball, but the stout had no choice but to leave the mound. KIA bench immediately put Kim Ki-hoon on the mound instead of the stout. Kim caught the follow-up hitter Huh Kyung-min with a fly ball and blocked the stout from losing additional points. Stout allowed three runs, four hits and one walk, at 39 pitches in 1.2 innings on the day
“Stout suddenly felt pain in his left thigh during the pitch and left the mound. We will monitor his physical condition and have a hospital checkup until tomorrow,” said an official at Kia.
Stout’s symptoms did not improve the day after he took the mound. Stout was diagnosed with damage to his left hamstring after a thorough examination on Tuesday. “Stout, who had been replaced due to thigh pain, underwent MRI examination today at the club’s designated hospital, Gooden Hospital. As a result, he was diagnosed with damage to his left hamstring. Stout will be removed tomorrow (21st).”
Stout was 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA, 20 strikeouts, five walks and a WHIP of 1.38 in four KBO League appearances. Stout was expected to receive another opportunity to take the mound next week, including the appearance on the 19th. However, Stout missed the opportunity to appeal to stay in the KBO League next season due to an unexpected hamstring injury. Looking at the process and results shown so far, it is somewhat regrettable to enter the regular foreign pitcher position in the KBO League next year.
Kia has surprisingly announced Yoon Young-chul, who recovered from a broken waist due to back fatigue, as the starting pitcher for the match against the Gwangju NC Dinos on Sept. 21, in lieu of Lauer, who was in poor condition due to a fingernail injury and Stout, who left the team due to a hamstring injury. If Lee Bum-ho originally planned, Yoon was scheduled to summon pitches first from the bullpen on Sept. 21 and start in one of the two consecutive away games next week. However, considering the long-term injury of Stout and Lauer’s nail condition, Yoon seems to be entering the starting lineup immediately. Attention is focusing on how the injury variables of Kia’s starting lineup, which continued from the beginning of the season, will affect the 2024 Korean Series.