Hanwha Eagles catcher Choi Jae-hoon’s injury is reported to be fortunately not serious.
Choi started the game against SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Sept. 29, but was replaced in the fifth inning when he was hit in the hand as his bat went backwards after a swing by SSG’s Guillermo Heredia. Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho explained on the 30th, “His pitching is fine, but he said it’s a little uncomfortable to hit.”
Jae-hoon Choi was diagnosed with a microfracture after a medical examination, but a double check was conducted on the 31st to make sure the diagnosis was correct. On the 31st, a Hanwha representative said, “Jae-hoon Choi received a doctor’s opinion that he can play if he manages the pain for two to three days. There will be no expungement of his entry.”
Heredia joined the SSG this year, and his big swing has been controversial since the exhibition games. In the opening game on April 14 against NC, Heredia’s swing hit NC catcher Park Se-hyuk in the head and he had to be taken away by ambulance.
Park received two to three centimeters of stitches in his lacerated head and had to be removed from the first team roster to recover. After being called out on his swing, Heredia pulled his bat forward to minimize collisions with the catcher, but this time he hit Choi Jae-hoon’s hand. Heredia isn’t the only player who has been criticized for having a big swing or frequently missing the bat while swinging, leading to injuries to teammates.메이저놀이터
In 75 games this year, Choi is hitting .212 with 53 hits (1 home run), 25 RBI, 12 runs scored, a .250 OBP, .388 slugging percentage, .307 on-base percentage, and a .695 OPS. He’s an “eye-ball” type of player, meaning his on-base percentage is unusually higher than his batting average, and for Hanwha, he’s mostly batting bottom of the order and leading off for the younger pitchers.
Having escaped last place this year, Hanwha is in eighth place (37 wins, 5 losses, 45 ties), 5.5 games behind the fifth-place KT Wiz and four games behind the sixth-place KIA Tigers. The short recovery period is a relief for Hanwha, who will need to stay injury-free to keep their eyes on the prize.