I was fired from my previous job. I found a new job with great difficulty. I clenched my teeth there. However, I can't last a month. I collapsed again. It was due to a sudden injury. A long-term absence became inevitable.

It's a terribly unproductive 2025. This is the story of super utility player Chris Taylor, 34.

His time with the Dodgers was a golden era. He won two World Series championship rings. He also secured a 4-year contract (2021-2025) worth 60 million dollars (approximately 83.2 billion won).

However, things continue to unravel afterwards. Naturally, the last year of the contract is a critical turning point. Injuries and poor performance coincide. As a result, opportunities to play drastically decreased.

Here, a critical variable arises. The emergence of the promising rookie Kim Hye-sung, 26, is formidable. His powerful hitting, swift running ability, and versatility in both infield and outfield defense overlap significantly.

In the end, the team's choice was 'new face.' The long-tenured player became a designated for assignment (DFA) target. It is not easy to find a new job at that age. He barely succeeded in reemployment, as the neighbor Los Angeles Angels opened a door for him.

On June 10th, it happened. An incident occurred during his 8th at-bat. Tyler Ferguson's 95 mph fastball struck his left hand.

He endured the pain and got on base at first. He continued to play center field through the 9th inning. However, his condition did not seem right. The next day, he had to go to the hospital, where a diagnosis of a fracture was made.

It was just two weeks after the trade. This happened exactly in his 10th game.

Initially, he was placed on a 10-day injured list (IL). However, it is not that simple. More than a month has passed since then. The schedule for his return remains uncertain.

Local media predicts more than 2 months. The earliest forecast suggests he will return in early August.

There is a basis for this; it is a previous case. Last year, Mookie Betts (Dodgers) also injured the bone in his left hand, leading to an unavoidable 8-week absence.

The Angels' manager remains optimistic. Ron Washington left this remark.

"He is a stronger player than anyone. Also, he is the one who enjoys this game the most. I am convinced he will return soon and show his former self."

There is another unfortunate aspect. It was just at the moment he was trying to break free from a severe hitting slump that he suffered this injury.

The Angels provided him with ample opportunities after acquiring him. He appeared as a starting member and played second base, left field, center field, and right field tirelessly.

In the first 5 games, he couldn't find his rhythm. He struggled with 1 hit in 14 at-bats (0.071). However, he began to bounce back after that. Just 2-3 days before his injury, he recorded consecutive multi-hit games (3 at-bats, 2 hits), one of which was his first home run of the season.

His rising hitting led to changes in his batting order. In the early days after the trade, he batted 8th. Then, he continued to climb to 6th and 5th.

He comes from humble beginnings. He was drafted 5th (161st overall in 2012) and began his professional career. In Seattle, he spent most of 4 years in the minors, with no secure defensive position. He had to endure a varying assignment of roles.

Ultimately, he was utilized as a trade card. He became the exchange target for the Dodgers' headache, first-rounder Jack Lee.

However, this transaction became a significant success for Friedman, the president of the Dodgers. It was also an event that introduced a new paradigm to the Major League's utilization approach. The term 'super' began to precede 'utility.'

Naturally, he became a player who received enthusiastic support from Dodgers fans. He also gained the nickname 'CT3,' derived from his initials, inspired by NBA star Chris Paul’s 'CP3,' as both wear the number 3. (After moving to the LAA, his number became 33.)

There is a keyword that permeates his life: tenacious vitality. This is also the reason fans are waiting for him this time.

There is more. This way, even the rookie who unwittingly pushed him aside might feel a little more at ease.

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