The Doosan Bears have confirmed that infielder Oh Myung-jin will be sidelined due to a hand injury, effectively ending his first-half season. The team announced his removal from the active roster on the 27th, ahead of their game against the Kia Tigers, and recalled infielder Park Sung-jae to fill his spot. This unfortunate injury comes as the Bears were riding a three-game winning streak.
Injury Details and On-Field Incident
According to club officials, Oh Myung-jin sustained an injury to the back of his right hand. He underwent surgery to place five pins in the affected area, with the stitches scheduled to be removed in two weeks. The incident occurred during the previous day’s game against Kia. Oh Myung-jin, batting sixth and playing first base, was injured during a running play.
In the top of the second inning with two outs, teammate Han Joon-soo hit a ground ball to second base and was advancing to first. Oh Myung-jin and Han Joon-soo collided as their paths crossed. During the collision, Han Joon-soo’s spike caught Oh Myung-jin’s hand. Both players fell to the ground in pain.
Oh Myung-jin was able to get up and, with the aid of a trainer, walked to the dugout. Han Joon-soo, after being checked by medical staff, also got to his feet and indicated he was fine. Han Joon-soo continued playing as the designated hitter in the bottom of the second. However, Oh Myung-jin was unable to return to the field.
Medical Assessment and Player’s Reaction
Oh Myung-jin was replaced as a pinch-hitter in the top of the third inning and immediately transported to the hospital for examination. The injury was more severe than initially apparent. Manager Kim Won-hyung described the situation, stating, “Unfortunately, five stitches were placed on the outside of his hand and two on the inside. It was stepped on. I thought he might have been more seriously injured. Given that it was stepped on, I worried there might be a fracture, but thankfully, there are no issues with his bones. He won’t be able to do anything for about two weeks, so he’ll likely be back in the second half.”
The manager also shared his conversation with Oh Myung-jin, adding, “When I met Oh Myung-jin briefly earlier, he expressed his disappointment. I told him not to worry too much and to focus on his recovery.”
Player’s Recent Performance
Oh Myung-jin had been in good form in June, showing improved hitting. In 20 games played, he recorded a batting average of .315 (17 hits in 54 at-bats), with one home run and five RBIs, contributing significantly to the team’s offense.
Lineup Adjustments
The starting lineup for the game against Kia was announced as Jung Soo-bin (center field), Ryu Seung-min (right field), Park Joon-soon (second base), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Kim Min-seok (left field), Kim In-tae (designated hitter), Ahn Jae-seok (third base), Park Sung-jae (first base), and Park Chan-ho (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Jack Llogda.
Park Sung-jae will fill in at first base for Oh Myung-jin. Foreign hitter Darin Ruf, whose recent hitting has cooled off, remains on the bench. Manager Kim explained the decision to call up Park Sung-jae, stating, “Park Sung-jae has been doing well in the minor league, so we planned to use him as a starter as soon as he was called up. If he’s doing well in the minors, it’s best to get him into the game quickly to maintain that momentum. We intend to give him a chance.”
