'Kiwoom's Thunderbolt' Lee Ju-hyung, Injured Again in Same Area Upon Return! Manager Also Regrets "I Was Trying My Best..." Currently Undergoing Examination

*This content was translated by AI.

Kiwoom Heroes' key outfielder Lee Ju-hyung (25) faced another cruel misfortune, collapsing once again in his return game. He is currently undergoing examination at a hospital, and no return date has been announced yet.

Lee Ju-hyung started as the second hitter and center fielder in the home game against KIA Tigers at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 25th as part of the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League', but was immediately substituted out after playing only the top of the first inning defensively and his first at-bat in the bottom of the first.

Diagnosed with a partial tear in his right hamstring during a game against KT at Gocheok on May 9, Lee Ju-hyung underwent a month of rehabilitation before being suddenly called up on this day. However, he faced the cruel curse of injury again after just one inning.

Seol Jong-jin, Kiwoom's manager, who met ahead of the Changwon NC Dinos game on the 26th, also could not hide his deep regret. He had earnestly instructed the player to adjust his pace before the game out of consideration for his physical condition.

Manager Seol Jong-jin expressed his regret during an interview with StarNews, saying, "I had instructed them not to sprint at full speed if a routine fly ball came out during batting or fielding, but to run at about 70%..."

However, the player's intense instinct backfired. Manager Seol revealed his regret, stating, "Of course, he likely thought that way internally, but since he has a habit of working hard at everything ingrained in him, it seems he instinctively ran out." Ultimately, Lee Ju-hyung complained of right hamstring pain again during the defensive play in the top of the first inning and was substituted for by Im Byung-wook at the start of the second inning.

Lee Ju-hyung, who joined the Hero Legion through a 1:3 trade with LG Twins in July 2023 (Choi Won-tae-Lee Ju-hyung, Kim Dong-gyu, and a rookie draft right), immediately established himself as a team's starting outfielder. He was also expected to anchor the team's upper-order batting and outfield center this season, but was once again held back by injury.

As a player whose strengths were his diligence and intense play, the recurrence of injury caused by the 'instinct to work hard' left the manager and Kiwoom fans with even greater bitterness and regret.

Meanwhile, to break their nine-game losing streak, Kiwoom set their starting lineup in the order of Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Park Chan-hyuk (right fielder), Choo Jae-hyun (center fielder), Hiura (left fielder), Kim Woong-bin (first baseman), Yeo Dong-wook (third baseman), Choi Ju-hwan (second baseman), Kim Dong-heon (catcher), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop). Baek Dong-hyun is the starting pitcher facing NC.

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*This content was translated by AI.