[breaking news] 'Lightning' 11th-win national team pitcher 'OUT' → LG will not be able to join the semifinal challenge of the WBC, official announcement said, "Hospital examination revealed swelling of the elbow's internal muscle."

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Joo-young (28, LG Twins)'s examination results came out. Fortunately, the major injury seems to have been avoided. However, it is necessary to take a break for about 10 days. The scenario of rejoining the national team for the U.S. eventually failed.

An LG official said on the 11th, "As a result of Son Joo-young's hospital examination, he was diagnosed with 10 days of pitching rest due to inflammation and swelling of the left elbow's ileus (inner muscles of the forearm)."

Son Joo-young was 11-6 with a 3.41 ERA last season. Son Joo-young started in the final 4th game of Group C in the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) against the Australian baseball team at Tokyo Dome, Japan on the 9th. However, he left the mound in one inning due to an unexpected injury. Son Joo-young's score was one hit and one walk in one inning.

Son Joo-young got off to a good start in the bottom of the first inning, treating leadoff hitter Travis Bazana with a fly ball to center field. However, after allowing Curtis Mead, a follow-up hitter, to hit the middle field, he gave up a walk to Aaron Whitefield, putting him on the verge of a crisis with one out and runners on first and second bases. But that was the end of the crisis. Son Joo-young guided Australia's No. 4 hitter Alex Hall to a fly ball to center field and even Jarryd Dale hit a ground ball to third base to finish the first inning without a run. The number of pitches in the first inning is somewhat higher than 27.

Australia's attack in the bottom of the second inning, with South Korea scoring two runs first in the top of the second inning. However, head coach Ryu Ji-hyun stood on the mound along with Son Joo-young and trainers. Something seemed to have gone wrong with Son Joo-young's physical condition.

In the end, Son Joo-young could no longer throw the ball. The replacement sign was issued and he went down the mound. Despite Son Joo-young's early steel plate, South Korea's "Veteran" Noh Kyung-eun did his part by allowing one hit and one strikeout in two innings. In the end, Korea was able to win 7-2 after a miraculous concentration.

At the time, Son Joo-young said after the game, "I felt a little uncomfortable in my elbow during the practice pitch in the second inning. I often feel uncomfortable around my elbow, but when I threw a little more, I was convinced that I couldn't pitch 100%. That's why I asked for a replacement as a precaution," he said.

After the match against Australia, the Korean national team moved to Miami, Florida, USA, where the quarterfinals tournament will be held by chartered plane. But Son was forced to board a flight to South Korea, not a chartered flight to Miami, for scrutiny.

In addition, as the examination revealed that he needed a break, it became difficult to rejoin the WBC. Now, the national team has to select a substitute for Son Joo-young, who is out due to injury. Currently, Riley O'Brien (31, St. Louis Cardinals), a "Korean pitcher" who is included in the preliminary list, seems likely to join.

O'Brien was originally scheduled to join the Korean WBC national team. Unfortunately, however, he suffered a calf injury in February and failed to join the national team. At that time, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) held a power reinforcement committee and said, "O'Brien's injury made it difficult to participate in the WBC. "I selected Kim Taek-yeon as a substitute and asked the WBC Organizing Committee to approve the replacement of the players," he said. Currently, O'Brien is taking the mound normally in Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition games.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.