[Official] "How could this happen?" NC's national team left-handed pitcher undergoes shoulder surgery... Teammate right-handed pitcher also faces "second" elbow surgery. "Scheduled for July in Japan"

*This content was translated by AI.

NC Dinos, already in a hurry, is now in a state of emergency. Both national team left-handed pitcher Kim Young-gyu (26) and right-handed starter Shin Min-hyuk (27) are undergoing surgery, making long-term absence inevitable.

On the 20th, NC officially announced that pitchers Kim Young-gyu and Shin Min-hyuk will undergo left shoulder surgery and right elbow surgery, respectively.

Kim Young-gyu is a left-handed pitcher who joined NC after being selected 79th overall in the second round of the 2018 KBO Rookie Draft, following his graduation from Gwangju Ilgo High School. He has served as a national team left-handed relief pitcher from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou through this year's World Baseball Classic (WBC).

This season, he has been active in 28 regular-season KBO games with a record of 1 win, 2 losses, 2 holds, and an ERA of 3.92. However, concerns arose when he was replaced on the 27th of last month during a match against Changwon Hanwha Eagles due to left shoulder pain. His left shoulder, which has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation since August 2024, ultimately became the source of trouble.

Kim Young-gyu underwent a detailed examination in Japan on the 8th. According to NC, the primary cause of the pain was identified as bone protrusion (osteophyte) on the back of the left shoulder, accumulated over a long period of repetitive pitching. Medical teams both domestically and internationally presented the same conclusion that surgical treatment is necessary.

The player and the club decided on surgery to ensure stable recovery and a return to peak performance. Ultimately, it was concluded that Kim Young-gyu will undergo surgery on July 1 in Atsugi City, Japan, to remove the bone protrusion formed on the back of his left shoulder.

To make matters worse, right-handed starter Shin Min-hyuk will also undergo surgery on July 2 in Yokohama City, Japan, to remove bone fragments from his right elbow and reconstruct the medial collateral ligament. Having previously undergone right elbow surgery in September 2024, this marks his second elbow surgery. Shin Min-hyuk joined NC after being selected 49th overall in the second round of the 2018 KBO Rookie Draft. This season, he has recorded 3 losses without a win in 8 games, with an ERA of 4.79, 35⅔ innings pitched, and 17 strikeouts.

Shin Min-hyuk also underwent a detailed examination in Japan on June 8. According to NC, newly formed bone fragments on the inside of the right elbow, created during the pitching process after surgery, were identified as the primary cause of pain and inflammation.

Medical professionals concluded that reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament is necessary to remove these bone fragments. This is effectively MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament·elbow medial collateral ligament) surgery. He received the same conclusion from medical teams both domestically and internationally. Consequently, the player and the club decided on surgery after comprehensively reviewing the medical team's opinion.

As of the pre-game point on the 20th, NC stands at 32 wins, 1 draw, and 35 losses, remaining in 7th place in the league. For NC, which is in a fierce battle for 5th place with Doosan Bears (34 wins, 2 draws, 35 losses) by just one game, this is a case of trouble upon trouble.

NC stated, "The rehabilitation periods for Shin Min-hyuk and Kim Young-gyu will be determined after comprehensively reviewing the post-surgical progress and recovery status."

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*This content was translated by AI.