This is unbelievable! KT's Yoo Jun-gyu, seriously injured: "Left ankle ligament rupture, out for 8–10 weeks" — a devastating blow

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz outfielder Yoo Jun-gyu (24), who was injured while making a defensive play the previous day (the 29th), could not avoid the injury setback and has now been sidelined. He is now expected to spend more than a month focusing on recovery.

A KT club official announced on the 30th, ahead of the Kiwoom Heroes game to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, that "Yoo Jun-gyu was diagnosed with a rupture of the medial ligament in his left ankle following a detailed examination," and added, "Recovery is expected to take approximately 8 to 10 weeks."

Yoo Jun-gyu fell while making a defensive play in the bottom of the ninth inning, when KT was leading 7-1 against Kiwoom the previous day, and complained of left ankle pain. He was substituted amid severe pain. At the time, the club stated it would release the hospital examination results later, maintaining a cautious stance, but the detailed examination revealed the devastating diagnosis of a ligament rupture.

KT, which had been maintaining stability on the mound and demonstrating fierce concentration in the later stages of games, was running a flawless game operation and riding a two-game winning streak. However, before they could fully enjoy the joy of victory, they faced a major setback with the loss of a key player. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) also expressed regret over Yoo Jun-gyu, saying, "He was injured last season as well, which is unfortunate. He will likely be out for about two months."

Due to this injury, Yoo Jun-gyu is expected to be unable to step onto the field for more than two months. In 30 games this season, he posted a .300 batting average (12 hits in 40 at-bats) and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.816, primarily appearing as a backup and delivering solid performances, but it turned out to be a regrettable turn of events. This is a fatal loss both for the player himself, who was on a strong upward trajectory, and for the team, which has lost a key pillar of its outfield.

On this day, KT removed Yoo Jun-gyu from the first-division roster and registered outfielder Jang Jin-hyeok. Right-handed starting pitcher Moon Yong-ik was also called up to fill the vacant roster spot.

Meanwhile, facing Kiwoom left-handed starter Park Jeong-hoon, KT set its starting lineup as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Kim Min-hyeok (left fielder), Hilliard (center fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Jang Seong-woo (designated hitter), Ryu Hyun-in (second baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (shortstop).

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*This content was translated by AI.