Lotte trade Bok-poong overdid it…July return not easy

Lotte Giants’ trade acquisition Son Ho-young, who is recovering from an injury, is unlikely to return in July.

Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung met with reporters ahead of the team’s seventh game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Feb. 2 and provided an update on players who have been sidelined with injuries.

Lotte is currently rehabilitating foreign pitcher Charlie Barnes and starting infielder Son Ho-young due to injuries.

Barnes, who was 3–2 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 starts this season, was diagnosed with a micro-tear in his left adductor muscle and will be sidelined for two to three weeks. Barnes was removed from the first team on May 26 against the Samsung Lions.

Son was traded to Lotte from LG before the season, where he was batting .322 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 48 games. His 30-game hitting streak, which he extended to 30 토토 먹튀검증 games against the KT Wiz in Suwon on March 20, tied for the third-longest in baseball history, earned him a spot in his first All-Star Game.

However, the 30-game hitting streak may have taken a toll on his body, as Son Ho-young complained of pain in his right hamstring and was dropped from the first-team roster on March 24. His participation in the All-Star Game was also canceled. At the time, manager Kim Tae-hyung said, “I don’t think he’ll be able to play for about three weeks. His condition has worsened,” said Kim Tae-hyung.

So when will Barnes and Son Ho-young be able to return to the first team? On the 2nd, coach Kim Tae-hyung said, “I think Barnes will be a burden for the first game of the second half. I think he will probably return in the second or third game.” If all goes according to plan, Barnes’ return will likely be on the 10th or 11th against the Incheon SSG Landers.

Unlike Barnes, Son Ho-young will take a little longer. “He will have to undergo a medical checkup in the second half of the season and then the schedule will be rescheduled,” Kim said.

Meanwhile, the Doosan-Lotte game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. was canceled due to rain. Lotte, which had announced Kim Jin-wook as its starter on the second day, pulled out its homegrown ace Park Se-woong on the third day.

As a result, the starting matchups of Park Se-woong (LOTTE)-Raul Alcantara (DOOSAN) on Day 2 and Aaron Wilkerson (LOTTE)-Kyubin (DOOSAN) on Day 3 were finalized. As these are the last two games of the first half, both teams are expected to go all out.