Samsung Lions captain Koo Ja-wook has been diagnosed with a minor injury to his left hamstring and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. The club said on October 1 that medical examinations found damage measuring 0.5 to 1 centimeter. Koo will first receive injection treatment, followed by a magnetic resonance imaging scan and other follow-up examinations in two weeks to determine his return schedule.
Koo was injured during Samsung’s home game against the Hanwha Eagles in Daegu on September 30. He started as the No. 3 hitter and left fielder, reached base with a hit in the first inning, then reported pain in his left hamstring while sliding into second base. He was replaced during the game.
The injury removes Samsung’s captain and central offensive player during the closing stage of the season. Koo is leading the league with a .370 batting average this year, and his absence leaves Samsung without a key contributor as the club pursues the top of the standings. His availability for the postseason will depend on the follow-up MRI and the recovery process after treatment.