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| Coach Lee Ho-joon of NC (left) and Lee Bum-ho of KIA met ahead of the regular season opener. Sports Chosun DB |
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| Photo = MBC Sports+, TVing Relay Screen Capture |
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The winning team manager visited the opposing team's manager's office as soon as the game was over. KIA Tigers couldn't laugh coolly even though they won in unexpected situations.
The showdown between KIA and NC Dinos took place at Changwon NC Park on the 14th. There was a headshot situation in the bottom of the seventh inning. NC's Choi Jung-won, who played as a substitute on the day, faced KIA's changed pitcher Choi Ji-min in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on the first and third bases. Choi Jung-won waited for the third pitch after fouling the first ball and the second ball. However, Choi Ji-min's 145km fastball hit the helmet near the back of Choi Jung-won's head and became a head shot. As soon as the ball hit the back of the head and fell, a sound of consternation also exploded in the stands.
As soon as he was hit by the ball, his helmet came off, and Choi Jung-won sat down on the spot and held the back of his head with both hands. Then, after a while, he lay down. Training coaches and head coach Seo Jae-ung immediately ran out of the NC bench to check Choi Jung-won's condition. The entire audience at NC Park, which was hot with cheering heat, cooled down in an instant. The waiting medical staff also ran out quickly to check the condition, and the medical staff and trainers unpacked Choi Jung-won's equipment and continued to check his consciousness and condition. After a while, the waiting ambulance entered the stadium, and Choi Jung-won boarded the ambulance on a stretcher while wearing a neck brace.
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| KBO League match between Samsung and KIA at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 24th. With one out and full base in the bottom of the eighth inning. KIA Choi Ji-min, who is being replaced. Daegu=Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.05.24/ |
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In the match, NC lost 8-9 after a close game, but Choi Jung-won's physical condition was more worrisome. In particular, Choi Ji-min, who was automatically sent off with a head shot, was more contemplative than anyone else. Even when Choi Jung-won was receiving first aid, Choi Ji-min, who looked at his condition with a pacing and surprised expression, followed Choi Jung-won until he boarded the ambulance. And he was sent off in accordance with the regulations. It is said that he has not been able to let go of his worries since then. From the pitcher's point of view, the thought that the ball that was out of his control hit the opponent's head must have come as a big shock, and above all, he felt sorry for the opponent.
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| In the first game of a doubleheader between NC and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 11th, NC Choi Jung-won hits and cheers with one out and one base in the top of the sixth inning. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.05.11/ |
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Coach Lee Bum-ho, the winner, was concerned about Choi Jung-won's physical condition rather than the details of the game after the game. Coach Lee said after the game, `I'm worried about Choi Jung-won's physical condition. I hope it's not a big injury.', and after the game, he went straight to the NC dugout with head coach Son Seung-rak. I visited director Lee Ho-joon's supervisor's office and apologized, asking about Choi Jung-won's condition and having a conversation.
Fortunately, no special abnormalities were found in Choi Jung-won's physical condition, allowing NC to breathe a sigh of relief. X-rays and CT scans revealed a simple concussion, and Choi Jung-won was discharged from the hospital after stabilizing with an IV injection and headed to the ballpark. I'm going to keep checking my physical condition because I got hit in the head, but I'm glad I didn't get a major injury right away.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
