'Kang Baek-ho Injury Exit' Hanwha Faces 3-Game Losing Streak Without Him; Coach Dal Says, "It's Not Severe, But We Need to Watch Closely" [Gwangju Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Hanwha Eagles, currently mired in a three-game losing streak, face the added challenge of enduring without 'RBI leader' and 10 billion won hitter Kang Baek-ho (27) for the foreseeable future.

Kim Kyung-moon (68), manager of the Hanwha Eagles, met with reporters ahead of their the 21st visit to Gwangju-Kia Champions Field to face the KIA Tigers, stating, "He injured his side while swinging. It's not severe, but an injury means the player must be fully recovered and able to practice before returning."

Kang Baek-ho hit a one-run RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning during the the 20th game against the Daejeon Kiwoom Heroes, but felt pain in his side and was substituted out during that play.

On the 20th, Hanwha announced, "After Kang Baek-ho underwent medical examination at a hospital, he was diagnosed with a strain of the left external oblique muscle. As a result, we have removed him from the roster and plan to determine his return timeline through follow-up examinations."

Last year, Hanwha reached the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years but settled for a disappointing runner-up finish. Emphasizing the need to strengthen their lineup, the team signed Kang Baek-ho as a free agent (FA) during the off-season on a four-year, 10 billion won contract.

While his defensive role was limited, his presence in the batting order was extraordinary. In 82 games this season, he recorded a .315 batting average (99 hits in 314 at-bats), 23 home runs, 86 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.980. He leads the league alone in RBIs, ranks third in home runs (tied), and has become an indispensable player, even taking on the role of cleanup hitter in place of Noh Si-hwan.

When asked about his recovery timeline, Manager Kim said, "It's difficult for me to give a precise answer. He is currently out of the roster, so we will monitor his condition closely. While undergoing treatment, we'll observe how things develop. His recovery speed may vary, and we need to see how long it takes before he can return."

For today's game, Hanwha set its starting lineup as follows: O Jae-won (left field), Choi In-ho (right field), Moon Hyun-bin (center field), Noh Si-hwan (third base), Yonatan Peraza (designated hitter), Heo In-seo (catcher), Kim Tae-yeon (first base), Lee Do-yoon (second base), and Park Jung-hyun (shortstop). Park Jun-young (24) will make the starting pitching appearance.

In addition to Kang Baek-ho, infielder Lee Do-hoon was sent down, but Hanwha simultaneously called up relievers Park Jun-young and Lee Gyo-hun for today's game. Manager Kim explained, "Our middle relievers have been working hard, and we encountered some unexpected situations. When the scoreline opens up, another pitcher becomes necessary. That's why we brought in these pitchers."

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*This content was translated by AI.