Even the pitcher who hit him and the spectators were shocked... 'Hard line drive struck face directly' NC Lim Ji-min rushed to hospital

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a dizzying situation where the game result did not matter. NC Dinos right-hander Lim Ji-min (23) was rushed to the hospital after being hit by a hard line drive in the face.

An official from the NC club stated on the 14th regarding the Busan Lotte Giants game that "Lim Ji-min was hit by a ball in the face and transported to a hospital."

Here is how the situation unfolded. With NC leading 9-6 in the bottom of the 9th, Lim Ji-min took the mound following his appearance in the bottom of the 8th. He struck out Gangnam with three pitches and recorded a swing-and-miss strikeout against Hwang Sung-bin, but allowed a ground ball single to Na Seung-yeop and an error on a wild pitch. Victor Rayeyes persistently fouled off Lim Ji-min's pitches and then hit the fourth pitch inside hard.

That ball unfortunately struck Lim Ji-min directly in the face. The ball glanced off Lim Ji-min's face and rolled to the side, while Rayeyes reached first base and was credited with a final infield single.

Lim Ji-min, hit by the ball, collapsed on the ground. Even in his dazed state, he tracked the ball with his eyes, and footage broadcast live showed blood pouring from the corner of his mouth. Everyone gathered at Sajik Baseball Stadium was shocked. Rayeyes, who had hit him, stood stunned at first base without even putting on his helmet as he watched Lim Ji-min receive treatment.

During this process, medical personnel waiting inside the stadium faced difficulties entering the field through the outfield fence. According to StarNews, this occurred because the outfield fence cannot be opened from inside the stadium to protect players during the game. Fortunately, after rapid response efforts both inside and outside, an ambulance was able to enter the field immediately and transport Lim Ji-min to a nearby hospital.

Lim Ji-min also managed to get up on his own and walked to the ambulance to board it. According to an NC club official, Lim Ji-min went directly to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Subsequently, relief pitcher Kim Tae-hoon allowed consecutive RBI hits: a two-run single to Han Dong-hee and a one-run single to Ko Seung-min. However, by recording a fly out to the third baseman against Yoon Dong-hee, NC secured a 9-8 victory.

NC starting pitcher Natsuki Toda continued his strong performance against Lotte with five innings pitched, allowing nine hits and two earned runs while issuing three walks (one walk and one hit-by-pitch) and striking out two batters. Conversely, Lotte's Kim Jin-wook, who returned after a ten-day break, collapsed in five innings, allowing eight hits (including two home runs), six earned runs, three walks (two walks and one hit-by-pitch), and recording five strikeouts.

Throughout the game, NC built an early lead while Lotte chased. The turning point came in the top of the 9th inning with the score tied at 6-6. Lotte closer Kim Won-jung allowed consecutive hits to Cheon Jae-hwan and Kim Ju-won, then committed a wild pitch that created a bases-loaded, no-out crisis. Another wild pitch resulted in one run scoring, and he also gave up a two-run single to Lee Woo-seong.

Eventually, he was replaced by Lee Young-jae, who also allowed a big inning after giving up a one-run double to Park Geon-woo that cleared the left field fence.

Lim Ji-min, who had entered in the bottom of the 8th with two outs and runners on second base and finished without allowing any runs, was awarded the win. Kim Tae-hoon, who closed out the game without surrendering the lead, recorded his first save of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.