Lotte Giants catcher Yoo Kang-nam has been removed from the first team roster. The reason is “injury.
Lotte has removed catcher Yoo Kang-nam from its first-team roster for the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the KIA Tigers at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Monday. Yoo’s vacated spot will be filled by infielder Jeong Bo-geun.
Yoo complained of pain while swinging during the game against KIA on the 28th, and was diagnosed with a ‘left adductor muscle injury’ through a medical examination. He will need to spend two to three weeks recovering, so it is unlikely that he will be able to play for a while.
Yoo Kang-nam signed a four-year, 8 billion won free agent contract with Lotte after last season, saying goodbye to his beloved LG Twins. The biggest expectation for Lotte was the batting. As a hitter who hit double-digit home runs for five consecutive years between 2017 and 2021 while calling Jamsil Baseball Stadium home, Lotte thought Yoo would provide a boost to the lineup.
While Yoo struggled this season, batting .226 with 55 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBIs and a .641 OPS in 81 games and 243 at-bats, he quickly integrated into the team with his steady leadoff and framing. It was said that he gave Lotte’s batting order a much needed boost.
However, the injury will sideline Yoo Kang-nam for a while, giving him time to recover and reorganize. For the time being, Son Seong-bin and Lee Jung-geun will have to work together to fill the void of the starting catcher.
Meanwhile, Choi Won-tae (LG Twins) and Lee Ju-hyung (Kiwoom Heroes), who were acquired via trade earlier in the day, were also named to the first team roster. Choi Won-tae is scheduled to start against the Doosan Bears on the 30th, and LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop explained that Choi’s start was pushed back due to Adam Plutko’s cold.메이저놀이터
In addition, Yoon Young-chul (KIA Tigers), Jung Goo-beom (NC Dinos), Lee Hyung-beom, Yang Chan-yeol (Doosan), Park Jong-hoon (SSG Landers), right-handers Lee Seung-hyun (Samsung Lions), Oh Sang-won, and Joo Seung-woo (Kiwoom) are also in the first team.
Byun Woo-hyuk (KIA), Chae Ji-sun (NC), Kim Jung-woo and Hong Seong-ho (Doosan), Jeon Jeon-won (SSG), Choi Ji-gwang (Samsung), Kim Byung-hwi and Kim Jae-woong (Kiwoom) dropped to the second team.