'2nd-place Samsung, 2-game gap' LG's 7-game winning streak hit by a bolt from the blue! Hong Chang-ki removed from first division due to back pain... 'Leadoff hitter' out again as they close in on 1st place

*This content was translated by AI.

A bolt from the blue struck LG Twins, which had begun to challenge for second place with a seven-game winning streak. Hong Chang-ki (33), nicknamed the "On-Base Machine," who had recently regained his hitting form, has been sidelined due to back pain.

LG announced on the 21st that "Hong was removed from the roster following today's medical examination, which revealed muscle pain in his lower back. Rehabilitation is expected to take about one week."

For LG, which is engaged in a fierce battle for standings at the end of the regular season, this loss is painful. LG has recently surged with seven consecutive victories, improving their record to 75 wins, 1 draw, and 55 losses, placing them third. In particular, since September, they have posted an impressive 11-4 record, closing the gap on second-place Samsung Lions to just two games after having fallen behind earlier. They continued their upward momentum with a 4-3 victory over Hanwha Eagles on the 20th.

With Go Woo-seok's return stabilizing the bullpen and Son Ju-young achieving his 30th save, the pitching staff has gained strength while the lineup has also come alive, raising hopes for a late-season climb in the standings. Through the 19th, LG recorded 10 wins and 4 losses in September alone, and adding the victory on the 20th completed their seven-game winning streak.

Hong Chang-ki's recent resurgence was also welcome news. On the 16th against the Changwon NC Dinos, he started as the leadoff hitter for the first time in 34 days, recording three hits, one RBI, and two runs scored to lead LG to a 9-2 victory. It was his first three-hit game in 26 days. At the time, Hong stated, "There are only a few games left, but I will do my best to accumulate as many wins as possible so that although we are currently in third place, we can finish with a higher ranking."

This season has not been easy for Hong Chang-ki by any means. In 120 games this season, he is batting .248 with 99 hits, 33 RBIs, 69 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .383, a slugging percentage of .296, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .679. He has yet to hit a home run. Considering Hong's reputation for consistently demonstrating top-tier on-base ability in the league every year, these results are disappointing. Upon concluding this season, he will also be approaching eligibility for free agency (FA) for the first time in his career.

Last month, he even admitted that it was the first time since becoming a regular starter that he had struggled so much, indicating the mental toll he endured. However, as the season neared its end, he returned to his familiar leadoff spot and began producing multi-hit games, finding signs of a comeback.

The arrival of back pain in this situation makes the loss even more regrettable. Fortunately, the expected rehabilitation period is only one week. However, LG, which was on an upward trajectory, will now have to continue the standings battle without its most crucial leadoff hitter at this critical moment once again.

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*This content was translated by AI.