*This content was translated by AI.
Pitcher Butch Smith (36), who left an indelible wound on Hanwha Eagles fans with controversies over his fragile body and shocking derogatory remarks about South Korea, collapsed again from injury in his return game.
Smith, who plays for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in the minor leagues, made a relief appearance at home against Louisville Bats (affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds) on the 24th (Korean time) at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, USA, but left the mound after complaining of pain following just two pitches.
According to local sources and broadcast footage, Smith took the mound on this day for rehab purposes. After throwing two fastballs — clocked at 93.4 mph (approximately 150.3 km/h) and 93.1 mph (approximately 150 km/h) against the first batter — he appeared to feel something wrong immediately and stopped pitching. Smith showed signs of being unable to contain his anger toward himself, and a trainer who noticed the issue rushed onto the mound to assess his condition before deciding on an emergency substitution.
Local media outlet "Tigers Minor League Report" stated that he was substituted due to an obvious injury, while Detroit News reporter Chris McCosky added that no specific diagnostic results have been released yet.
A trainer who recognized the situation immediately ran onto the mound, assessed his condition, and determined that further pitching was impossible, leading to Smith's emergency substitution. Although the exact location of the injury and detailed diagnostic results have not yet been officially announced, there are growing concerns about a serious re-injury given that he left the mound again after just two pitches on his first rehab appearance.
Smith is an individual who has left a strongly negative impression on Korean baseball fans. He joined the KBO League in 2023 with high expectations to serve as Hanwha Eagles' foreign ace, but during his opening game debut, he pitched only 2⅔ innings before complaining of shoulder pain and voluntarily leaving the mound. He never returned for another game and ultimately left bitterly, earning the disgraceful title of "the shortest-term expelled foreign pitcher in KBO history." His career ERA in the KBO League stands at 6.75.
The real problem erupted outside the ballpark. After being forced into early exit due to recurring injuries, a fan criticized him via his Instagram direct message (DM), calling him "glass-bodied." In response, Smith lost all rationality and directly retorted by unhesitatingly labeling South Korea as a "garbage country."
This remark immediately sparked massive outrage among Korean baseball fans. Beyond mere personal conflict, the attitude of directly insulting an entire nation drew fierce criticism from both inside and outside the baseball community. As a result, Smith left South Korea not for his skills or records, but branded with the scarlet letter of "the worst character and brutal injury history."
Even after leaving South Korea, Smith's severe injury aftermath has continued without respite. This season, he appeared in 13 Major League games for the Detroit Tigers, recording two losses with no wins and an ERA of 3.18 while making consistent appearances, but was placed on the injured list last May due to symptoms of a right shoulder strain. After seeking recovery by moving through Single-A and then Triple-A to find new opportunities, he once again exited from injury after just two pitches in this rehab appearance, raising serious red flags about his entire playing career.
With repeated failures to escape injuries even on the minor league stage following his KBO days, combined with renewed scrutiny of his past character controversies, the gaze of Korean baseball fans toward Smith is gradually growing colder.
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*This content was translated by AI.
