"Song Sung-moon, I'm sure you were stressed out." How can you be such an understanding head coach... I met my teacher well, too! Lateral injuries are also minor

*This content was translated by AI.

The examination revealed that Song Sung-moon (30, San Diego Padres)'s side injury was minor. In the process, San Diego coach Craig Starman's consideration also stood out.

Ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Cubs at Peoria Stadium in Arizona on the 7th (Korea time), coach Starman said, "Fortunately, Song Sung-moon has to check his condition every day." He said, "I came to the stadium today because my condition is better than yesterday."

Earlier, Song Sung-moon was replaced by side pain after hitting his first home run in an exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners on the 6th. There was already concern over an injury to the right internal oblique muscle during training in January, but it was reported that it was not a major injury.

Staman said, "It's not as serious as last winter's injury. "I hope to see him soon," he said, adding, "I've already been paying attention, but I think I need to be a little more careful."

In December last year, Song Sung-moon signed a four-year total of $15 million contract through Major League posting. $2.5 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $3.5 million in 2028 and $4 million in 2029, which are conditions for executing opt-outs after 2028. In 2030, there is also a $7 million mutual option, which can run for up to five years.

While continuing his ordinary performance in exhibition games, he also raised expectations by reporting home runs and RBIs in seven games. However, the head coach was not in a hurry, considering Song's rapidly changing environment.

Song Sung-moon made his professional debut through the Kiwoom Heroes in 2015, and his first nine years were a level performance. However, due to diet changes and weight training, he hit 45 home runs over the past two years and was also selected by Major League Baseball.

"We have to think about Song Seong-moon going through changes not only in baseball, but also in his overall life and environment," Staman said. We always keep in mind that these stresses can affect recovery and durability," he explained.

"According to Song Seong-moon, it was not caused by a specific swing or movement. If it had been like that, the injury would have been much more serious, he said, adding, "The feeling of stiffness continued all day and then got a little worse."

Song Sung-moon is also lucky to meet a head coach who understands the player's situation like this. In the past, Kim Ha-sung (31, Atlanta Braves) was also reborn as a Gold Glove shortstop under the belief of coach Bob Melvin, who had a high understanding of Asian players. The San Francisco Giants of the same National League West even put Melvin as the head coach to help Lee Jung-hoo (28) adapt quickly.

Stamen is also considered a head coach with good understanding and control over San Diego. After making his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2009, he moved to San Diego in 2017 and retired after playing as a must-win player until 2022. After retirement, he was appointed as a special assistant for the San Diego team and has been appointed as the head coach since this season, leading the team.

Meanwhile, Song Sung-moon is said to be able to make it to the roster of the opening game as long as he is healthy. The U.S. media Sports Illustrated said, "Song Sung-moon is being reborn as a super utility player by even playing shortstop defense for the first time since his junior high school days. He was silent with no hits in five at-bats at the beginning of the exhibition game, but he recently increased his batting sense with four hits in 11 at-bats. As long as he is healthy, he is likely to enter the opening roster."

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*This content was translated by AI.