Pittsburgh Pirates Infielder Kang Jung Ho Cuts Short His Bid For Rookie Of The Year Due To Knee Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie infielder Kang Jung Ho will have to miss the remaining season and postseason of the Major League Baseball as he exits with a knee injury on Thursday. This means Kang's bid for Rookie of the Year will also be cut short.
During a game against Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Kang had a collision with Cubs' Chris Coghlan as the latter tried to break a double play sliding into the second base, Sports Illustrated noted on the same day.
In a dispatch released on the same day, Kang, through his agent Alan Nero, said he suffered from "serious injury."
"It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury," said Kang. "That said, Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I'm confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone's start."
Korea Times noted on Thursday that the incident is the "second time Coghlan has seriously injured a middle infielder with a slide." The first was back in 2009 when he slid into the leg of Akinori Iwamura as the former tried to break a double play.
"This is the most painful moment I've ever had in the States," said Iwamura, who ended that season due to injury. "Obviously it hurt when the guy hit me.
On the other hand, Pirates announced on its Twitter account that Kang has underwent a sugery Thursday night in Allegheny General Hospital. The team also states that Kang is expected to be back in the field in six to eight months.
28-year-old Kang formerly played for the Hyundai Unicorns and Nexen Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization League. In January, Kang signed a four-year deal with the Pirates for $11 million.
Meanwhile, Pirates and Cubs are slated to play a three-game series on September 25 to 27 which will be held in Chicago.
