Lotte Giants veteran infielder Lee Hak-joo was replaced due to an unexpected injury during the game.
Lee batted ninth and played third base in the 12th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the 온라인카지노 Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 18.
After striking out with the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Lee suffered an unexpected injury on defense in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Lotte starter Charlie Barnes induced an infield grounder to Kim Xiang, Kiwoom’s No. 9 hitter.
Lee Hak-joo was able to get the ball in his glove, hitting a hard-to-handle ball out of bounds. However, the second baseman, Lee Ju-hyung, who was running to third base, was unable to avoid Lee Hak-joo and collided hard with him.
Third base umpire Kim Gap-soo immediately called Lee Joo-hyung for defensive interference, ending Kiwoom‘s second inning offense. However, Lee fell to the ground and was unable to get up as he complained of pain.
The Lotte coaching staff checked Lee Hak-joo’s condition but signaled to the dugout that he was unable to play normally. An ambulance entered the field and Lee Hak-joo was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
LOTTE made an emergency substitution for Lee Hak-joo with foreign hitter Nico Gudrum, who was removed from the starting lineup due to a slight hamstring strain. Lee is currently traveling to a nearby hospital.
Lee is batting .213 (13-for-61) with one home run, seven RBIs and a .552 OPS in 68 games this season. He has played multiple positions, including shortstop, third base, and second base, and has contributed to the Lotte infield.
Meanwhile, Lotte, which is trying to win its fifth straight game, took an early 2-0 lead thanks to Ahn Chi-hong’s two-run homer in the top of the third inning. Starting pitcher Charlie Barnes also pitched a scoreless second inning.