Veteran infielder Kim Sun-bin of the KIA Tigers showed a sense of responsibility by volunteering for the starting lineup just two days after getting stitches on the inside of his lip.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho announced before the 3rd game of the season against the Doosan Bears on the 20th at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium that Kim Sun-bin, who suffered a serious injury two days ago, would be returning to the starting lineup.
On the 18th, Kim Sun-bin was forced to head to the hospital after colliding violently with second baseman Park Gye-beom while running to first base after bunting in the top of the 6th inning with no outs in the game against Doosan. He fell to the ground, complaining of significant pain after his facial area struck hard against Park's right shoulder. Immediately, KIA trainers and medical staff rushed to Kim Sun-bin, who got up holding gauze in his mouth, and he walked off the field.
The impact of the collision caused a tear to the inside of his lip, making a trip to the hospital unavoidable. A KIA official noted at the time, "The inside of the upper lip is torn, so he will be transported to Asan Medical Center in Seoul for sutures. Due to the severe contusion, we plan to check for injuries to the teeth and jaw via X-ray."
Fortunately, Kim Sun-bin successfully completed the suture procedure for his upper lip at the emergency room of Asan Medical Center. The suturing was neatly done, and follow-up examinations revealed no abnormalities in the jaw or teeth. Manager Lee Bum-ho expressed relief, saying, "It's not a serious injury, so I think he will be fine after resting for just one day," and, as time passed, Kim Sun-bin returned to the starting lineup.
When asked about Kim Sun-bin's condition on that day, manager Lee Bum-ho said, "The hospital, training staff, and Kim Sun-bin all said he was fine. In fact, I thought he would be slightly swollen until today, and I was going to keep him out, but the player insisted on going out."
It was revealed that Kim Sun-bin also volunteered to play as a pinch hitter in the previous day's game. Manager Lee Bum-ho stated, "In fact, Kim Sun-bin said he felt fine yesterday and could play as a pinch hitter. However, when he stepped to the plate and the fans saw his lip, I thought it would be a bit much, so I asked him to rest today and just check if he would be ready tomorrow."
Manager Lee Bum-ho added, "I appreciate that Kim is pushing himself this much. If you look back at the bunt two days ago, he likely felt good enough to contribute and made that decision. The most important thing is not to get injured. I hope he plays within his limits to avoid any injuries."
With Kim Sun-bin's return, KIA has once again formed a national team-caliber keystone combination with Park Chan-ho and Kim Sun-bin. Manager Lee Bum-ho expressed confidence, stating, "When Park Chan-ho and Kim Sun-bin take the field, it reduces variables. It allows us to execute the game plan in our heads, making it more comfortable for us."
KIA established its starting lineup against Doosan's starter Jack Loog with Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Na Sung-bum (right fielder), Patrick Wisdom (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lee Woo-sung (left fielder), Byeon Woo-hyeok (third baseman), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Choi Won-jun (center fielder). The starting pitcher is ace James Neill.
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