The NC club said on the 25th, “Seo Ho-cheol showed a broken nose as a result of medical treatment.” However, we diagnosed it as a situation that does not require surgery, he said. “We will check the player’s condition tomorrow and decide whether to register and participate through an internal meeting.”
Earlier, Seo Ho-cheol started as the second batter and third baseman in a home game against the Doosan Bears in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Changwon NC Park on the 24th. He was recording two hits in three at-bats (one home run) and one RBI by completing multiple hits early on, including a first solo shot from Doosan starter Jang Won-jun in the bottom of the first inning, his first at-bat.
However, an unexpected situation occurred for both the team and Seo Ho-chul in the second half of the game. Seo Ho-chul, who entered the batter’s box at the bottom of the eighth inning with one out and one on the first base when his team was losing 2-3, fell to the ground as he was hit in the face by a 145km/h fastball thrown by Doosan’s Kim Kang-ryul. The ball was bound for his face. The team’s trainer and coach in the dugout immediately ran out to check Seo Ho-chul’s physical condition, and Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop also looked at Seo Ho-chul with worried eyes.
The ambulance quickly entered the ground, and Seo Ho-cheol, who stepped carefully, boarded the ambulance and immediately moved to the hospital. It is fortunate that surgery was avoided, but as much as you have been found to have a fracture, you should focus on recovery. It remains to be seen whether the remaining games will be played. 토토
Seo Ho-chul is one of the players who cannot be left out when referring to NC’s generational change. He joined the second round of 9th round 87th in 2019, and although he did not receive attention compared to the players selected in the top round as a “lower-round pick,” he began receiving many opportunities in the first division last year after visiting Sangmu. Last year, he had a batting average of 0.205 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 89 games and 195 at-bats.
This year, Seo Ho-cheol’s share of the team’s power has increased. NC, which failed to advance to the postseason by finishing sixth last season, had young players, both inside and outside, and Seo Ho-chul was the same. He gained the attention of head coach Kang In-kwon as he showed improved skills from the previous season. For NC, which had to find a new “main third baseman” as “veteran” Park Seok-min suffered in the aftermath of disciplinary action and sluggishness, Seo Ho-chul’s appearance was welcome.
Seo Ho-chul clearly imprinted his presence from the beginning of this season. In April, he recorded 15 hits in 46 at-bats and a batting average of 0.326 with six RBIs, followed by May (21 hits in 72 at-bats and a batting average of 0.292 with 10 RBIs) and June (32 hits in 92 at-bats with a batting average of 0.348 with one homer and 10 RBIs).
As the weather got hotter, his pace slowed in July (10 hits in 43 at-bats, 0.233 one homer, three RBIs) and August (11 hits in 48 at-bats, 0.229 one RBI), but this month, he seemed to set the stage for a rebound with 15 hits in 54 at-bats, 0.278 one homer, and eight RBIs. However, unexpected injuries put the brakes on him. Even if it is not a serious injury, it seems to take some time to show off 100% of his skills as he needs a recovery period.
From the team’s point of view, Seo Ho-chul’s injury is regrettable. Key shortstop Kim Joo-won was away as he was selected for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games baseball team, and he was worried about the left infield. As even the third baseman leaves, the infield’s operation seems inevitable. For now, Do Tae-hoon, who has relatively much experience in hot corners in the first division, is expected to fill Seo Ho-chul’s gap.
NC, which is on alert for its infield operation due to injuries in the national team gap, will play four consecutive games, including a doubleheader, against the KIA Tigers at home from the 26th to the 28th. He will take a break on the 29th and meet the Samsung Lions in Daegu on the 30th. On the 1st and 2nd of next month, he will face Hanwha in an away match in Daejeon and then go up to Incheon to play three consecutive games against SSG Landers from the 3rd to the 5th.