Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang will need season-ending surgery after a takeout slide at second base against the Chicago Cubs earlier on Thursday. He will miss the remainder of the season, as first reported by Dejan Kovacevic of DKPittsburghSports.com.
Jung Ho Kang out for season after takeout slide
Kang is expected to be out six to eight months after surgery Thursday.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The play in question was a double play ground ball to second base in the top of the first inning by Anthony Rizzo. Chris Coghlan slid hard into the shortstop Kang as he turned the double play. Kang was removed from the game and had to be helped off the field.
Kang had surgery Thursday night on a displaced lateral tibia plateau fracture and lateral mensical repair, the Pirates announced. He is expected to return to competition in six to eight months.
The Pirates released a statement on behalf of Kang from his agent, Alan Nero.
“It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury,” Kang said. “That said, Chris Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I’m confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone’s support.”
Coghlan expressed remorse after the game.
#Cubs Coghlan reached out to Pirates Kang to see if he was OK after collision. "I hate that he's hurt"
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) September 17, 2015
Kang was a driving force this season for the Pirates (87-59), who are currently two games up on the Cubs for the first Wild Card position in the National League. Kang is hitting .287/.355/.461 with 24 doubles and 15 home runs in 126 games, one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year.
He has proven quite versatile for Pittsburgh this season, starting 54 games at third base and 49 games at shortstop.
Send our teammate Jung Ho Kang prayers. Heal up Chingu(friend). We got u. Best believe that
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) September 17, 2015
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