How badly is the knee injured?
Professional baseball LG Twins' top hitter Hong Chang-ki collapsed due to a knee injury. The results are delayed due to double-checking at multiple hospitals.
LG won 9-6 against the Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 13th. LG won by hitting four home runs, fending off Kiwoom's pursuit.
Starting pitcher Chi-Rinos recorded 8 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, and 5 earned runs in 5⅓ innings. Following Choi Chae-hung, veteran Kim Jin-sung prevented a reversal crisis with 1⅓ innings of scoreless relief, recording a win. Bae Jae-jun took charge of the 8th inning, earning a hold, and Park Myung-geun appeared in the 9th inning to record a save.
Austin, who missed the last four games due to dizziness after a collision with a fielder, returned to the starting lineup and hit two home runs, contributing with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs.
However, the top batter Hong Chang-ki, who was active with 2 hits in 5 at-bats, 1 home run, and 3 RBIs, collapsed due to injury during the defense in the bottom of the 9th inning. He appeared to have seriously injured his left knee. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance and is undergoing detailed examinations on the 14th.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, with 2 outs and the bases loaded, right fielder Hong Chang-ki injured his left knee while trying to catch a foul ball from Park Joo-hong, colliding with first baseman Kim Min-soo. As Kim Min-soo fell backward, a significant impact was brought to Hong Chang-ki's knee. After the collision, Hong Chang-ki collapsed and complained of pain. A trainer hurried out to assess his condition, and his teammates watched with concern. Hong Chang-ki was injured to the extent that he could not stand on his own and was carried off on a stretcher to the ambulance. The severity of the injury appeared serious.
An official from the LG organization noted around midnight on the 13th, "He injured his left knee, but I don't know when the exact examination results will come out. The results and detailed information may be delayed through further examinations, and we will announce the results and situation tomorrow (14th)."
As of the morning of the 14th, Hong Chang-ki's medical report has not been released. An LG official informed around 1 p.m. that "the results are delayed as they are checking at multiple hospitals." If delayed, details about Hong Chang-ki's injury could be shared during an interview with manager Yom Kyung-yup before the game.
Hong Chang-ki is currently recording a batting average of .269, an on-base percentage of .395, and an OPS of .708 for the season. His batting average dropped to the .220 range due to poor performance in early season, but he has improved his batting pace in May with a batting average of .368 in 10 games.
If the injury absence of the three-time on-base king is prolonged, LG, which is fighting for the lead, will lose a significant asset. This could severely impact LG's season operations toward the championship.
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