A key relief pitcher could miss the upcoming World Baseball Classic for South Korea next spring after suffering a severe foot injury, officials said Thursday.
Right-hander Hong Sang-sam recently broke his right foot during an offseason practice session and will undergo surgery, Hong’s club, the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization, said Thursday.
Hong was named to the provisional roster for the WBC last month, after enjoying a breakout season as a setup man in 2012. “He will have the surgery soon and the rehab could take about six to eight weeks,” an official with the Bears said.
According to the official, Hong sustained the injury during a running drill on Tuesday. At first, Hong felt he had sprained his foot, but further tests revealed the fracture.
Hong, 22, enjoyed the best season of his four-year career in 2012. He appeared in a career-high 53 games and went 5-2 with 22 holds and a 1.93 ERA. (Yonhap News)
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