The 2024 KBO exhibition game between the Samsung Lions and the Lotte Giants at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 14th. 안전놀이터
Koo took the batter's box in the sixth inning with one out and no runners at the center when his team was losing 0-5. Koo was hit on the right pinkie by a slider on the third pitch of Lotte's left-handed bullpen pitcher Jin Hae-soo. After suffering from pain after collapsing, Koo immediately entered the dugout with his trainer. Samsung let go its pinch runner Kim Heon-gon.
Koo missed a month due to injury last season, too. Koo had a batting average of 0.336 152 hits, 11 homers, 71 RBIs, 65 runs scored, and a slugging percentage of 0.407 was 0.494 in 119 games last season. He ranked second in batting-on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage, and 10th in most hits, earning the honor of his second Golden Glove since debut.
However, he suffered a hamstring injury in a match against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on June 3 last year, preventing him from playing for a month. It was a painful injury for Samsung, which already has weak outfield depth.
Samsung also sighed when a player was injured at an exhibition game last year. Kim Jae-sung, a former first-place catcher, was absent from the opening list due to an internal oblique muscle injury on his right side during an exhibition game. Knowing the pain, Samsung had no choice but to focus on Koo Ja-wook's medical examination results.
Fortunately, he has no major abnormalities. A Samsung official said, “He was examined at three hospitals. After the examination, he found no bones in his right hand. He was simply bruised.”
On the day, Samsung had a complete defeat to Lotte 0-7. However, the team almost had to leave the team, which is more painful than the loss, but it has overcome its reputation for now. It is hard to imagine a team without Koo Ja-wook, the captain and main left fielder of Samsung.
Meanwhile, Samsung will hold an exhibition game against Lotte on Saturday. The team will then go on an away game against the NC Dinos at home in Daegu on Saturday and Sunday, and against the KIA Tigers on Sunday and Sunday.
Samsung has one win and four losses in exhibition games.
