'Concussion from hit to jawbone, shattered fracture': NC Dinos pitcher Lim Ji-min completes surgery... "Discharged on the 21st; return decision to be made based on recovery progress"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lim Ji-min (23), a pitcher for the NC Dinos who suffered a shocking accident in which his jawbone was shattered by a hit ball, has successfully completed surgery.

On the 18th, NC Dinos announced that "Lim Ji-min underwent surgery at Dong-A University Hospital in Busan on the morning of the 18th for injuries including a shattered fracture of the lower jawbone and other facial injuries."

After completing surgery, Lim Ji-min is currently recovering at the hospital and is scheduled to be discharged on the 21st. Following discharge, he will continue treatment, and his specific return schedule is expected to be determined based on his recovery progress.

During the Lotte Giants game held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 14th, Lim Ji-min entered as a relief pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second base to extinguish the threat. He also appeared in the bottom of the ninth inning when his team was leading 9-6. After quickly recording two outs, Lim Ji-min allowed a hit and an errant pitch to Na Seung-yeop. With two outs and runners on second base, he was struck in the face by a batted ball from Victor Reyes.

Lim Ji-min collapsed right there on the mound. An ambulance entered the field, and Lim Ji-min was transported to a nearby hospital, where medical examinations diagnosed him with lacerations inside the mouth and a shattered fracture of the lower jawbone.

On the afternoon of the 15th, NC stated, "Lim Ji-min was diagnosed with a shattered fracture of the lower jawbone and lacerations inside the mouth following detailed examinations at the hospital. Regarding the laceration inside the mouth, primary suturing has been completed, and surgery is scheduled for early next week for additional treatment and recovery. The specific timing of his return remains undecided."

He was placed on the operating table today. With the team currently in seventh place, 6.5 games behind fifth-place Doosan Bears, they are still in a situation where they cannot give up. However, it is uncertain whether Lim Ji-min will be able to rejoin the team for the remainder of the season.

Lim Ji-min joined the team as a second-round pick in the 2022 Rookie Draft and has established himself as a key relief pitcher this season, taking on the role of closer starting last month. As a closer, Lim Ji-min had recorded one win, one loss, and five saves before his sudden departure dealt a significant blow to NC Dinos.

Lim Jin-wook was removed from the first-team roster on the 15th, and NC called up Ryu Jin-wook. Ryu Jin-wook recorded 22 holds in 2023 and served as the team's closer last year, securing 29 saves. This season, he has bounced between the minor league and major league three times, finishing with two wins, seven losses, three saves, one hold, and an ERA of 9.62.

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*This content was translated by AI.