'LG loses power hitter' for second consecutive day, 18-save ace also injured: "Rehabilitation expected to take up to four weeks" [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

With the race for first place intensifying, LG Twins have lost a key player for two consecutive days. Following the departure of promising right-handed slugger Lee Jae-won (27) on the previous day (18th) due to a hamstring injury, reliever Kim Jin-seong (41) has now been sidelined with a shoulder issue.

Ahead of their home game against KT Wiz at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 19th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, LG announced changes to its first-division roster. New Asian quota player John Kennedy (32) has been added to the active roster, while Kim Jin-seong has been removed.

The reason is Kim's injury. According to an LG club official, Kim was diagnosed with a minor tear in his right subscapularis muscle and is expected to require three to four weeks of rehabilitation. With LG currently engaged in a tight race for first place—trailing 1st-place KT Wiz by 5.5 games and 2nd-place Samsung Lions by 4.5 games—the situation has triggered an emergency alert. LG had already lost Lee Jae-won the previous day due to a hamstring injury. On the 16th, during a defensive play in the Jamsil SSG Landers game, Lee felt pain in his left hamstring. Medical examination revealed a minor tear in his left hamstring, with rehabilitation expected to take three to four weeks.

Kim is regarded as one of the players who symbolized the peak of the 2020s. After being released by NC Dinos following the 2021 season, he joined LG and entered a second prime, recording double-digit saves for five consecutive years. In just five seasons with LG alone, he accumulated 111 saves and contributed to two Korean Series championships. Even this year, amid instability in both starting pitching and relief corps, he posted 6 wins, 2 losses, 18 saves, and 1 save in 53 games, with an ERA of 4.94 over 47⅓ innings and 35 strikeouts, serving as a cornerstone for the team.

However, with the standings race at its peak, the prospect of losing a key player for at least a month poses significant concern for LG. As a silver lining, Kennedy, who brings extensive relief pitching experience, is eligible to pitch starting today. Kennedy was acquired on the 15th as a replacement for Lachlan Wells (29), with the Australian left-hander signed to a total contract of $20,000 (approximately 28 million won).

Standing at 203 cm and weighing 111 kg, Kennedy is known for his deceptive delivery from a low three-quarter arm angle. Although his fastball tops out at just 150 km/h, his command has been strong enough to allow him to compete as a starter even before arriving in Korea.

The manager also places high expectations on Kennedy's ability to pitch on consecutive days. Yeom Kyung-yeop, LG's manager, stated, "I've seen him pitching in the bullpen; his control is good and he has excellent deception. He also throws a changeup against right-handed batters, allowing him to face both left- and right-handed hitters effectively. Of course, we need to observe him closely, but given that it won't be easy to reach closer Son Ju-young, he will likely provide significant support."

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*This content was translated by AI.