'Home run in comeback game' Lee Jae-hyun realized, "It is truly a blessing to be pain-free."

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions' starting shortstop Lee Jae-hyun (23) announced a spectacular return, adding momentum to the team's eight-game winning streak. During the time he was absent due to a back injury, he deeply felt the longing for baseball and the preciousness of good health.

On the 12th, Lee Jae-hyun started as the eighth hitter and shortstop in the away game against the LG Twins at the '2026 Shinhan SOL Bank' KBO League held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. He went 3-for-3 with two hits (one home run), one walk, one RBI, and one run, swinging the bat powerfully. This was a successful return after about 20 days since he was excluded from the first-division roster due to back pain, with his last appearance being in the SSG Landers game on April 21. Thanks to Byun Byung-woo's bases-loaded home run, the team won 9-1, avoiding a loss in eight consecutive games.

After the game, Lee Jae-hyun's expression showed a mix of relief. He shared his thoughts, saying, "(Before the game) I was quite nervous because it had been a long time. It seems that (Jeon) Byung-woo handled everything at the crucial moments. I can only feel relieved that the winning streak didn't break." It appeared he felt pressure, fearing that his return might have halted the team's seven-game winning momentum.

The cause of Lee Jae-hyun's injury was ironically that he "worked too hard." He said, "When things don't go well in baseball, everyone tends to increase their practice volume, but this is all my fault for not managing my body properly." He also conveyed his sincerity, stating, "Because I couldn't even play a game due to pain, I once again realized how grateful it is to be pain-free."

Regarding the disciple who returned from injury, manager Park Jin-man expressed strong trust by saying that before the game on the 12th, he encouraged Lee Jae-hyun, telling him, "You've rested well for a while, so let's prepare to play full time until the end of the season." Lee Jae-hyun, after the game, smiled and said, "It was good that the manager told me to play full time."

With the return of starting shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, Samsung added cohesion on both offense and defense, accelerating its push toward the upper ranks. Manager Park Jin-man also expressed satisfaction after the game, saying, "Lee Jae-hyun has returned from injury. I actually thought it would be good if he could at least play well defensively, but it is encouraging that he not only played well defensively but also got two hits, including a home run, in batting." Lee Jae-hyun, who realized the preciousness of health, has now prepared his bat to swing without rest.

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*This content was translated by AI.