He is a captain with unstoppable passion.
Oh Ji-hwan (33), the captain of the LG Twins, was left out of the entry prior to the match against Samsung in Jamsil on the 8th due to microscopic damage to his right oblique muscle. Futures League shortstop Choi Hyun-joon has been called up. An LG official explained, “I was diagnosed with microscopic damage to the right oblique muscle. It is expected that it will take more than two weeks to heal.”
It could have led to more serious injuries. It is because of Oh Ji-hwan’s unstoppable fighting spirit.
Oh Ji-hwan’s side has already caused a problem since the Gocheok Kiwoom match on the 6th. LG coach Yeom Kyung-yeop called up Joo-hyun Jeong before the game that day and explained, “After the Kiwoom match yesterday, (Oh) Ji-hwan said that his side was bad, so I needed an infielder, so I raised Joo-hyun.”
However, Oh Ji-hwan started the game that day.
He went to the hospital to check it out, but he insisted on participating, saying, 안전놀이터“It’s just a bunch of muscles.”
The content of the match was even more surprising.
He didn’t look sick at all. It flew wild from the beginning.
In the first at-bat in the second inning, Austin, who had hit a double in the first at-bat, was called in for a right-handed hit and the team’s first RBI.
As a runner, he perfectly stole the pitching form of Kiwoom starter Jang Jae-young, who lacked experience, and succeeded in stealing second and third bases one after another. He created a situation with 1st out, 1st and 3rd bases, and stepped home on Seo Gun-chang’s outfield sacrifice fly.
He also scored the first run and created a chance with a stolen base. In the face-to-face confrontation between Kang Hyo-jong and Jang Jae-young, who were anxious about drumming and playing janggu, they took the lead in bringing about the early flow.
After the game, LG coach Yeom Kyung-yeop also praised, “Today’s first goal was an important game, but Oh Ji-hwan did not spare his body even when he was ill and showed hustle play as a captain and created an opportunity to win.”
Oh Ji-hwan continued his batting training until the match against Samsil Samsung on the next day, the 7th.
However, after batting training, he complained of pain in his gear. Eventually, an MRI scan at the hospital revealed microscopic damage.
The captain who gave victory to the team with an indomitable fighting spirit enough to forget the pain. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop, who was asked how he could run like that when his body was in that state, laughed with a dumbfounded expression, saying, “That’s why it’s crazy.” Then he said, “What would have happened if I hadn’t gone to the hospital. It could have been 8 weeks,” sweeping his chest.
Professional baseball players play with big and small injuries throughout the season. Attitude towards the game is very different.
There are players who are reluctant to participate even if they are not good enough as an excuse. On the other hand, there are players like Oh Ji-hwan who persevere despite being sick. It is important to listen to one’s body, but the captain’s extraordinary sense of responsibility and fighting spirit can’t help but be proud of him as a bench.
In LG, veteran infielder Kim Min-seong is minimizing Oh Ji-hwan’s gap with stable defense and offensive contributions. As soon as 8-year-old promising shortstop Kim Joo-seong recovers, he is expected to be called up to the first team and given a chance. Director Yeom Kyung-yeop
