Samsung foreign pitcher Albert Suarez’s injury could have been caused by the Pohang game on the 1st.
The Samsung Lions removed Suarez and outfielder Kim Tae-hoon from the first team roster on the 7th, a day without a game, and added pitcher Lee Sang-min and catcher Kim Do-hwan to the roster on the 8th before the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil.
The reason for Suarez’s removal was long-term rehabilitation. He made a start against LG in Daegu on June 6 and left the game after ⅔ innings of two-hit ball, but was replaced early after complaining of discomfort in his left leg. He was diagnosed with a 12-centimeter damage to his left calf muscle after a medical examination. It was a major injury that will take at least four weeks to recover from.
Although the injury occurred in Daegu, it was suggested that the previous game against Pohang KIA on the 1st may have influenced the injury. After pitching a perfect game in three games in July with two wins and a 0-0 ERA, Suarez was shaken up on the first day of August when he faced KIA in Pohang at Samsung Stadium, giving up five runs in 5⅓ innings. His inability to adapt to the mound in Pohang, which is completely different from Daegu, led to his injury on the 6th.
Manager Park Jin-man said, “It’s not without influence. I think there is some influence. The player said he was uncomfortable throughout the game in Pohang. During the game, he told the umpire that the mound was not good, so he kept asking for more time to choose the ground.”
What was it about the mound in Pohang that affected Suarez’s injury? Park said, “The Pohang mound is bouncy. Also, the mound is high, but the place where you land when you shift your weight is too steep. Of course, it’s good if you can use it well, but if you can’t, your stamina and balance can collapse. I think Suarez had a little bit of that.”안전놀이터
Park plans to find Suarez’s replacement in the Futures League. “We will find Suarez’s replacement by watching the Futures League matches,” Park said.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s starting lineup against Doosan’s Choi Seung-yong is Kim Hyun-joon (center field), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), Koo Ja-uk (right field), Kang Min-ho (designated hitter), Ryu Ji-hyuk (third base), Jose Pirela (left field), Kang Han-ul (second base), Oh Jae-il (first base), and Kim Jae-sung (catcher). The starting pitcher was Choi Chae-heung. If they beat Dusan on the day and Kiwoom loses to Lotte in Gocheok, they can escape from last place.