'He stepped up even though it wasn't 100%' Lotte's Hwang Sung-bin ultimately removed from 1-man roster, will miss at least two weeks "Partial strain in left thigh muscle"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants' runaway institutional investor Hwang Sung-bin (29) could no longer withstand his injury and was removed from the 1st-man roster.

A Lotte club official announced on the 22nd ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against Doosan Bears at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium that "Hwang Sung-bin was removed from the 1st-man roster for management purposes due to a minor partial strain in his left rectus femoris (thigh muscle). The recovery period is expected to take about two weeks."

This is a major blow for Lotte, which recently fell into a four-game losing streak. As of the 22nd game, Lotte's team batting average of 0.246 and OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 0.688 rank 8th and 9th in the league, respectively, reflecting the team's worst offensive slump.

Among them, Hwang Sung-bin was one of the few batters hitting over .300, alongside Victor Reyes and Noh Jin-hyuk. This season, Hwang Sung-bin has recorded a .327 batting average (17 hits in 52 at-bats) in 16 games, with 2 RBIs, 6 runs scored, 5 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.763.

However, he injured his right adductor muscle while returning to base during the Jamsil LG Twins game on the 14th and was unable to appear in the starting lineup for some time.

Hwang Sung-bin returned in the Busan Hanwha Eagles game on the 19th, but his physical condition was not 100%. At the time, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung expressed concern, saying, "He says he's fine, but we need to gradually adjust his playing time. We also need to check his stolen base ability."

Even on the previous day (the 21st), he appeared in the starting lineup and recorded one hit in four at-bats, but ultimately disappeared from the lineup after feeling pain in his opposite thigh just one day later.

On the day Hwang Sung-bin was excluded from the 1st-man roster, Lotte constructed its lineup with Han Tae-yang (second baseman), Victor Reyes (right fielder), Noh Jin-hyuk (first baseman), Han Dong-hee (third baseman), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Son Ho-young (designated hitter), Jang Du-seong (center fielder), Son Sung-bin (catcher), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop). Kim Jin-wook was the starting pitcher.

The leadoff spot will be taken by second baseman Han Tae-yang, who is currently in good batting form. Han Tae-yang has played a crucial role from the lower part of the lineup with a .283 batting average (15 hits in 53 at-bats) and an OPS of 0.717 in 18 games. In center field, Jang Du-seong, who is gradually earning opportunities, will take the field to support Kim Jin-wook.

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*This content was translated by AI.