Batting Woes Deepen for Samsung Lions as Ryu Ji-hyuk Also Injured; Manager Park Jin-man Says He'll Pinch Hit

The Samsung Lions are facing mounting challenges as their batting lineup continues to falter, now compounded by the injury of key player Ryu Ji-hyuk. Ryu, who has been a standout performer this season with the second-highest batting average in the league, suffered a knee contusion after being hit by a foul ball during a recent game. While manager Park Jin-man assured that the injury is a simple bruise and Ryu can still perform basic actions like hitting and running, the discomfort in lateral movements and bending will keep him from starting games.

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Ryu Ji-hyuk has a simple bruise. He's okay to hit and run, but it's a bit uncomfortable to move left and right and bend. I think he'll be fine by tomorrow. He'll probably only be able to pinch hit or play in the second half today.

Manager Park expressed his hope that Ryu might be available as a pinch hitter or for later innings, emphasizing the team's desperate need for runs. He also highlighted the performance of Kim Jae-sang, who will fill in for Ryu, noting Kim's batting talent but acknowledging the need for defensive refinement. Park stressed that given the team's current offensive struggles, the focus must be on scoring, and he expects Kim to play without pressure.

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Kim Jae-sang is a player with batting talent, but he needs more refinement in defense. Given our team's situation, we need to focus on offense. We need to score somehow. I hope Jae-sang can play without pressure today.

The team's offensive slump is a significant concern. Despite a respectable team batting average, they are failing to capitalize on crucial scoring opportunities. Even slugger Dario Rivero, last season's home run king, is in a slump. Manager Park attributed these issues to a combination of psychological pressure and technical flaws, suggesting that players feel compelled to be heroes in every at-bat, leading to poor pitch selection and a loss of balance. He humorously noted that Rivero might be "soft inside," despite his imposing appearance. The Lions are looking forward to the return of several injured players, including Koo Ja-wook, Kim Young-woong, and Lee Jae-hyun, after May 10th, hoping they will bring stability to the team as the pitching staff continues to perform adequately.

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There seems to be pressure on him to solve it himself because many players are out of the lineup. He thinks he has to solve it whenever there's a chance, so he's swinging at bad balls. Whether he hits or not, waiting for his own pitch is a big mental aspect. That's when his balance is also off.