[Official Statement] 'Upset Challenge' LG Twins Get Lucky! Golden Glove Second Baseman Who Clutched His Hamstring to the Ground Is Heading to Gwangju for Now... "No Major Issues; Will Travel Together After Rest and Management"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The LG Twins, challenging for an upset, received a stroke of luck. Shin Min-jae (30), the Golden Glove (GG) second baseman who collapsed clutching his hamstring during the Wild Card Decider Game, fortunately avoided a major injury. With starting shortstop Oh Ji-hwan (36) also facing difficulties in making a normal appearance due to injury, LG was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The LG club officially announced on the 15th, "Shin Min-jae has no major issues. His left hamstring area is slightly tight, so he will rest and receive management today (the 15th) and tomorrow, and is scheduled to travel to Gwangju with the team."

Shin Min-jae was replaced during the game due to injury in Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason (PS) Wild Card Decider (WC) against the Doosan Bears, held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the previous day (the 14th).

The incident occurred with one out and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth inning, while LG was holding a precarious 2-1 lead. Shin Min-jae successfully executed a precise squeeze bunt toward the third base side, creating a valuable additional run. However, he clutched his left hamstring while stepping on the first base bag. Shin Min-jae, who complained of pain while limping, was eventually replaced by Lee Young-bin (24) and finished the game. At the time, the LG club announced, "He was replaced for player protection due to symptoms of left hamstring stiffness."

However, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop's (58) reaction after the game was grim. Manager Yeom stated, "A detailed examination is needed, but as it stands, it does not seem easy for him to appear in the Junior Playoffs," and expressed concern, saying, "(If Shin Min-jae's appearance is difficult,) we plan to first check Oh Ji-hwan's physical condition. I think he will be fine after resting for about two days, but if that is not possible, Lee Young-bin seems likely to enter as a substitute player."

It was such a fatal setback for LG. Shin Min-jae is a representative Cinderella story created by the Yeom Kyung-yeop regime. He joined Doosan as a developmental player in 2015 and moved to LG through the 2018 KBO Second Round Draft, but before Manager Yeom's arrival, he was mainly used as a pinch runner and defensive substitute. However, he broke out as the starting second baseman in 2023, contributing to two Korean Series championships, and last year won his first career Golden Glove for second base. It was the first award for an LG-affiliated second baseman in 31 years.

This year has been a difficult time. In 138 regular season games, he posted a .251 batting average (100 hits in 399 at-bats), 26 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases, with an OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) of just 0.606. This was disappointing compared to his .313 batting average and 0.777 OPS last year. Nevertheless, Manager Yeom did not withdraw his trust in Shin Min-jae. Even when the slump lasted long in June, he chose waiting over a demotion to the minor league, stating, "Min-jae is ultimately a player who must be responsible for our team's next five years. He is going through that process."

There is a reason why Shin Min-jae cannot be easily excluded even if he fails to meet expectations at the plate. His stable second base defense, quick legs, and experience in big games are fully valuable in a short series. In fact, he fulfilled his role in WC Game 1 against Doosan as well, creating an additional run with a precise bunt.

Moreover, LG's current infield is in a situation where even starting shortstop Oh Ji-hwan is facing difficulties in making a normal appearance due to injury. Oh Ji-hwan suffered a partial tear of the medial ligament in his left knee while changing direction during base running in a game against the KIA Tigers on the 5th. Normally, he would need to wear a half cast and rest for about a month, but Oh Ji-hwan showed his will to wait until the end of the season if possible.

He was included in the roster for WC Game 1 against Doosan on the 14th but could not take the field. Instead, Koo Bon-hyuk (29) started at shortstop. Such Oh Ji-hwan shared welcome news about his condition on the 15th. He posted a photo of himself doing batting practice at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on his SNS, stating, "It is my last game in Jamsil, so running has meaning. That means even more to me," revealing his determination to play.

Of course, completing batting practice does not mean he is capable of normal defense and base running. Oh Ji-hwan's actual appearance depends on further observation of his physical condition. In this situation, the news that Shin Min-jae avoided a major injury is even more welcome. If Shin Min-jae had also been out of the lineup, LG could have had to fight the fall baseball season having lost both members of their starting keystone combination. The burden would inevitably increase regarding not only the stability of infield defense but also the operation of substitution cards.

LG will move to Gwangju on the 16th and play Game 1 of the Junior Playoffs (JPO, best-of-five series) against third-place KIA in the regular season at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field at 2 p.m. on the 17th. LG has a head-to-head record of 7 wins and 9 losses against KIA in the regular season and has recorded a seven-game losing streak in recent matchups. In this difficult situation, where they must also overcome the absence of key relief pitchers such as Son Ju-yeong (28) due to injury, avoiding a worsening of Shin Min-jae's injury is certainly welcome news.

However, traveling to Gwangju for the away game does not immediately mean a normal appearance in Game 1. Manager Yeom's plans for infield operation are expected to change depending on the state of Shin Min-jae's hamstring and Oh Ji-hwan's recovery.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original