'Same injury area again' Rosenburg to undergo detailed examination → Manager: "Will act based on results; still not considering two foreign hitters"

*This content was translated by AI.

Kiwoom Heroes' replacement foreign pitcher Kenny Rosenburg (31) has once again faced a setback due to injury.

Rosenburg started against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th but was removed early after feeling pain in his left hip during warm-up throws in the top of the 4th inning. Rosenburg allowed three earned runs over three innings, and the team fell 1-7, falling into a five-game losing streak.

The most concerning issue is the location of the pain. According to Kiwoom Heroes manager Seol Jong-jin (53), the area where Rosenburg felt pain is the same injury site that sidelined him from the lineup last season.

Manager Seol, in a pre-game interview on the 21st, took a cautious stance regarding Rosenburg's condition, stating, "We need to have him examined at a hospital tomorrow (the 22nd)." When asked if the team would need to find a replacement player if the results are unfavorable, he replied, "We will decide based on tomorrow's examination results."

The manager revealed that the day before, regarding Rosenburg's condition, "We had some suspicion of injury from the early part of the game. His velocity didn't drop significantly, but after the first inning, he was throwing in the high 130s instead of the high 140s, so we kept watching closely, thinking, 'Something doesn't seem right.' He said he was fine, so we kept him in, but since it's the same area that hurt him last year, I think the pain may have returned when he had to perform a bunt defense (in the 3rd inning during Hwang Sung-bin's bunt hit situation). How else could he have climbed onto the mound himself and said he couldn't continue?" He could not hide his bitterness.

With the return schedule of Nathan Wiles, the current replacement foreign pitcher for the injured Rosenburg, Kiwoom's calculations have become complicated. Regarding Wiles' condition, the manager explained, "Wiles is scheduled to pitch one inning with the Futures team (minor league) today. He will rest for two days and pitch again on Wednesday (the 24th), so we will decide (on Rosenburg's future, etc.) based on those results."

First, the training staff believes it will be difficult for Rosenburg to pitch again. Accordingly, the club plans to quickly confirm the hospital examination results on the 22nd and then discuss follow-up measures. Meanwhile, when asked by StarNews whether the club is considering using two foreign hitters due to Rosenburg's departure, the manager drew a line, stating, "Since Wiles' status has not been determined yet, we have not thought that far."

The manager also did not forget to praise rookie Park Ji-sung, who took over the mound after Rosenburg's sudden removal and held the line for three innings (one run allowed). The manager explained, "We did not intend to have Park Ji-sung pitch for a long time; we just let him pitch longer because the starter only managed three innings, and Park Ji-sung's pitch count was not high. His stuff was good, so we entrusted him with three innings." When asked if there was no anxiety about putting a rookie on the mound, he responded, "We put him in because we trust him. If we were anxious, we wouldn't have used him." He added, "He has performed exceptionally well for a rookie so far. We plan to utilize him while adjusting his pitch count and innings," showing firm trust.

Regarding Park Ji-sung's strengths, the manager said, "Above all, his control is excellent. While his fastball velocity is a bit lacking, his slider and changeup are good, making him an excellent pitcher in terms of using breaking balls. He is a player who greatly helps in managing the game from the mound." He further evaluated, "From the bench's perspective, we trust a pitcher with good control more than one with poor control."

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*This content was translated by AI.