'0.1% Probability' Walk-off Grand Slam Hero Removed from Season's First Roster, Drops from Team-Leading Batting Average, Hits, and Runs [Gocheok Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

'An Chi-hong (36, Kiwoom Heroes), the hero of the '0.1% probability' walk-off grand slam, has been removed from the first-division roster for the first time this season.

'Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin (53) met with reporters ahead of the game against NC Dinos held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 9th, stating, "An Chi-hong was removed from the roster due to hip muscle pain. He had been experiencing slight pain for some time, which worsened during the Jamsil game against Doosan Bears last weekend. He received treatment yesterday and today, but showed no improvement, and doctors have advised him to rest for a few days. We expect it will take about ten days to recover," he said.

'An Chi-hong did not play in the Doosan game on the 6th and 7th, remaining on the bench. Instead, Kim Tae-jin (31) was registered for the first division and started at second base.

'An Chi-hong, an 18-year veteran who debuted with KIA Tigers in 2009, joined Kiwoom this season and has been a key figure in the team's lineup. In 57 of the team's 61 games, he recorded a .291 batting average (64 hits in 220 at-bats), 4 home runs, and 24 RBIs. He was leading all Kiwoom batters in batting average, hits, and runs (25), while ranking third in home runs and RBIs.

'Especially on May 10, in the Gocheok game against KT Wiz, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning, one out, and bases loaded, he hit a walk-off home run to left-center field off opposing pitcher Kim Min-su (34), leaving a strong impression. Walk-off grand slams have occurred only 25 times since the KBO League was established in 1982. Based on the total of 23,761 regular-season games played over the previous 45 years, the probability was merely 0.105%. For Heroes players, this was the first time in nine years since Lee Taek-geun (then with Nexen) in 2017.

'Kiwoom's starting lineup for the day was: Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Choi Ju-hwan (first baseman), Hiura (left fielder), Im Byung-wook (center fielder), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Kim Tae-jin (second baseman), Park Chan-hyeok (right fielder), Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop), and Kim Dong-hyun (catcher). The starting pitcher was Rosenberg.

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*This content was translated by AI.