Infielder Moon Bo-gyeong joins injured list as LG Twins' woes grow

Infielder Moon Bo-gyeong joins injured list as LG Twins' woes grow

Published: 06 May. 2026, 13:33

LG Twins infielder Moon Bo-gyeong lies on the field of Jamsil Baseball Field after twisting his ankle during a game against the Doosan Bears on May 5. [YONHAP]

Infielder Moon Bo-gyeong joined the growing ranks of injured players on the LG Twins roster after he twisted his left ankle during a game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Tuesday.

Moon’s injury occurred as he stepped on a ball that had deflected out of his glove on a grounder.

Moon had been one of the few stabilizing forces in LG’s lineup. Though not in full form after injuring his side during the World Baseball Classic in March, he had primarily served as a designated hitter and was batting .310 with three home runs.

His absence is expected to last at least several weeks, dealing a significant blow to the already depleted offense of the defending KBO champions.

The team is already without its No. 2 starter, Yonny Chirinos, who has not pitched since April 16 due to an elbow injury. His absence is expected to extend beyond a month, with no clear replacement available.

Left-hander Son Ju-young, another key starter who played in 10 games won by the Twins last season, has also yet to return after suffering a minor oblique injury in late March.

The bullpen has been hit just as hard. Closer Yoo Young-chan, who had led the league with 11 saves, will undergo elbow surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

The club explored bringing back former closer Go Woo-suk, now pitching in the United States after moving via the posting system, but the right-hander declined, opting to continue pursuing a major league opportunity.

LG Twins closer Yoo Young-chan throws a ball during a game against KT Wiz at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on March 29. [NEWS1]

Manager Youm Kyung-youp recently acknowledged the extent of the disruption, saying he feels as though only “about 40 percent” of its preseason plan remains intact.

Despite the mounting injuries, LG remains a strong contender for the KBO title.

Australian right-hander Lachlan Wells, signed under the league’s Asian quota, has stepped into multiple roles and delivered strong results, posting a league-leading 1.00 ERA with a 2–1 record.

Yi Jung-yong, another rotation option, has also impressed watchers. He has allowed just two runs — one earned — over eight innings in his past two appearances.

The lineup, however, presents a more immediate concern. With Moon sidelined, there is little clarity on who will serve as his substitute.

Moon Sung-ju, who ranks third in the league with a .366 batting average, is also out of the game after suffering an injury on Friday.

Other key contributors, including Park Dong-won, Oh Ji-hwan, Shin Min-jae and Hong Chang-ki, have been hampered by injuries or slumps.

Austin Dean, hitting .367 with eight home runs, has carried much of the offensive load, but it remains to be seen if he alone can offset the losses.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [

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