Doosan Bears player Yang Seok-hwan returned home after receiving treatment for a cracked rib in Japan. He is expected to return to the first team before the All-Star break at the earliest.

Acting manager Jo Sung-hwan explained on the 21st at Jamsil Stadium about Yang Seok-hwan's current status, "He came in yesterday, and I checked today. The medical opinion is that he is fine, and he will start training tomorrow. He will fully prepare his body and gradually follow the second team game schedule, so if everything goes well, he is expected to return before the All-Star series, or if it takes a little longer, after the All-Star game."

Yang Seok-hwan has struggled, but he still has a presence as a first baseman with power. Acting manager Jo Sung-hwan said, "When I look at the lineup I’m putting together, I think the first baseman should generally be closer to the center of the batting order. Nevertheless, I continue to think that it would be good if a player with more strengths in hitting takes on the role of first baseman. I hope he recovers his condition and prepares well in both body and condition so that he can contribute to the team's positive synergy."

Yang Seok-hwan was removed from the first team roster on the 3rd. Doosan's former manager Lee Seung-yeop abruptly resigned on the 2nd, and the acting manager Jo Sung-hwan's regime began. On the 3rd, Yang Seok-hwan and Kang Seung-ho, who were in a hitting slump, were sent down to the second team.

However, Yang Seok-hwan was replaced during the match against the Future League's SSG Landers on the 4th after being hit by a pitch from opposing pitcher Lee Geon-wook in the left rib. Initially, he was diagnosed with simple bruising, but since his condition did not improve, a detailed examination confirmed that he had a crack in his rib. On the 9th, Yang Seok-hwan went to the Ijima Clinic in Yokohama, Japan, for rehabilitation treatment. He returned home on the 20th, and the examination results showed that he had fully recovered.

Yang Seok-hwan signed a 4+2 year maximum contract worth 7.8 billion won with Doosan after the 2023 season. Last year, he played 142 games, recording a batting average of .246, 34 home runs, 107 RBIs, and an OPS of .804. This season, in 56 games, he has a batting average of .260 (53 hits in 204 at-bats), 6 home runs, 23 RBIs, and an OPS of .748, which is underwhelming.

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