Samsung Lions infielder Ryu Ji-hyuk, 30, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after suffering a shoulder injury while attempting to steal second base. According to Samsung officials, the shoulder injury is suspected, and he will undergo a second medical examination.
Ryu Ji-hyuk started as the No. 7 hitter and second baseman in the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday, but was unexpectedly injured during the second inning.
Ryu Ji-hyuk came up to bat and faced LG starter Choi Won-tae. After letting the first and second pitches go for strikes, Ryu fouled off pitches three and four before drawing fouls on pitches five and six. The sixth was a ball. Finally, he took the seventh pitch for an infield single to shortstop. The ball rolled toward the shortstop, where Oh stepped forward to catch it and make a running throw to first base. It was initially ruled an out, but was overturned to a save after video review.
Next up was No. 8 hitter Kim Hyun-joon. After picking off the first and second pitches, he let the third pitch go for a strike, and on the fourth pitch, Ryu Ji-hyuk stole second base. The ball was ruled outside, but LG catcher Park Dong-won caught it and threw to second base without delay. The throw was perfectly directed between the second base and the runner, and it looked like it would be an automatic tag. However, LG shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, who was trying to catch the ball, collided with Ryu Ji-hyeok, who was sliding. Oh’s hand made contact with Ryu’s body as he attempted to make the tag, and Ryu was thrown out on the base. The result was a tag out.
However, both Ryu Ji-hyuk and Oh Ji-hwan were struggling to get back up after the collision. The coaching staff and trainers from both Samsung and LG came out to check on Ryu and Oh. Samsung then put an ‘X’ sign on Ryu, indicating that he could no longer play. Oh managed to stand up and check Ryu’s condition. Soon, an ambulance came onto the field. Ryu Ji-hyuk was on a stretcher, unable to run anymore. Oh Ji-hwan approached the ambulance and said something to Ryu, showing his concern. Eventually, Ryu was replaced by substitute runner Kang Kang-ul. Ryu Ji-hyuk was taken to a nearby hospital in the ambulance.
Shortly after Ryu was taken to the hospital, a Samsung representative said, “It is believed that he was impacted in the left collarbone area during the sliding process,” adding, “We will know the detailed condition only after the results of the hospital examination.” Another hour later, the results of an MRI 스포츠토토 examination were released. “As a result of the MRI examination, Ryu Ji-hyuk is suspected to have some damage to his left shoulder joint labrum (a muscle that provides stability to the shoulder so that the bones of the arm are well fixed to the body),” a Samsung representative said, adding, “He will be examined again tomorrow at Sejong Sports Orthopedics, a shoulder specialist, for a more accurate diagnosis.”
Ryu, who was drafted by the Doosan Bears in the fourth round (36th overall) in 2012 after graduating from Cheongwoncho-Sunrinjoong-Chungam High School, continued to play for Doosan before being traded to the Kia Tigers in 2020. He then donned the Lion Corps uniform in July of last year in a one-for-one trade for Kia catcher Kim Tae-gun. Ryu had a particularly good start to the season. In three games as the starting center fielder, Ryu was batting .400 (4-for-10) with three runs, one RBI, four walks, a .400 on-base percentage, a .571 slugging percentage, and a .971 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). Ryu Ji-hyeok was a veteran in the center of the infield, but his injury has left Samsung in a state of emergency.