Imagine how surprised the KIA players and family were when the pillar of the team's mound and family man suddenly fell ill.
A game between the Doosan Bears and the Kia Tigers at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on May 25th. In the top of the sixth inning, with a video congratulating him on becoming the second pitcher in KBO history to reach the 2,400-inning milestone, Yang Hyun-jong suddenly clutched his left hip after fouling off the first batter, Jeon Min-jae, at first base.
The next batter was Kang Seung-ho. After throwing a fastball for a strike, Yang hastily gestured toward the dugout. The umpire realized Yang was in trouble and immediately called time.
The trainer rushed out to help him, and he slumped to the ground.
Champions Field was packed to capacity on this day. With Kia leading 6-0 and hopes of snapping a four-game losing streak, Yang Hyun-jong, who had pitched a scoreless inning, suddenly fell to the ground. A sigh, louder than most cheers, echoed through the stadium. Yang's wife and three children, who were cheering him on from the stands, watched in horror.
Yang Hyun-jong woke up a short time later and expressed his intention to continue throwing after his practice pitches, but his pitching stance was awkward. Unable to rotate his left hip properly, he walked off the mound after striking out Kang Seung-ho and Yang Ji.
Manager Lee Bum-ho checked on him with a worried 토토 look on his face, but Yang Hyun-jong raised his index finger to Lee, signaling his intention to pitch one more inning.
As promised, Yang took the mound in the seventh inning. Two batters later, Ramos doubled and Lee Yoo-chan singled to give up a run, but he struck out Cho Soo-hyun to end the inning.
As Yang walked off the mound, he raised his hand to the families in the stands to show that he was okay.
After a sweep of Lotte and a shocking come-from-behind loss the day before, Yang saved Kia from a four-game losing streak. Yang's seven innings of one-run relief helped Kia to a 6-2 victory over Doosan.
After the victory, Yang's children ran onto the field. They were thrilled to see their dad back on the field in one piece and giving him a victory high-five.
After the game, a KIA official said, “Yang's hip pain is not serious. He will be able to fulfill his next pitching schedule as scheduled.”
