Samsung Lions outfielder Albert Suarez was removed from the game after just three pitches.
He left the mound abruptly due to pain in his left leg.
Suarez made his 19th start of the season in the 12th game of the season against LG on June 6 at Lions Park in Daegu.
After a nine-pitch full-count battle with top hitter Hong Chang-ki, he allowed a single up the middle. However, he induced Moon Sung-ju, the No. 2 hitter, to hit a slider to the shortstop. He threw a four-pitch changeup to No. 3 Kim Hyun-soo, who lined a single to right field that sailed over the first baseman. 꽁머니지급
That’s when he ran into trouble.
As he instinctively went to cover first base on a grounder to short, he felt pain in his left leg.
The trainer, translator, pitching coach, and catcher Kang Min-ho gathered on the mound. They checked on him for three minutes. Suarez tried to keep throwing as he stepped on his leg, but it was determined that he was in no condition to continue.
Suarez walked very slowly back to the bench, seemingly uncomfortable as he stepped off the mound.
Samsung said, “He was replaced due to left shin pain. He will undergo a detailed examination including an MRI at SM Imaging Department.”
In the bullpen, right-hander Lee Seung-hyun quickly warmed up and pitched, ending the inning with a grounder to short. Suarez pitched ⅔ innings of two-hit ball.
To make matters worse, first baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk, who has been swinging the bat well of late, was injured on defense and replaced by Kim Tae-hoon in the first inning. In the second inning, Ryu slipped while trying to run back to first base on Oh’s grounder to second base. In the process, he felt pain in his left thigh.
Samsung explained, “He was replaced by a player protector due to a muscle strain in his left thigh during the defense process. There are no plans for a medical examination.”
Right-hander Lee Seung-hyun quickly warmed up in the bullpen.
The Lions rebounded in earnest with an 8-5 record in the second half. Just a week after the return of Jung-hyun Paik completed the starting rotation, the Lions have been dealt another blow with Suarez’s injury. Hopefully, it’s not a serious long-term injury.