Seoul: The Kiwoom Heroes find themselves grappling with a challenging season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), currently sitting at the bottom of the standings with an 11-20-0 record. Despite low expectations for the season, the extent of the team's injury woes has caught Manager Hong Won-ki off guard.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Heroes have been particularly hard hit by injuries, including key players like the young left-hander Jung Hyun-woo and outfielder Yasiel Puig. Jung, the first overall pick in last year's draft, is sidelined with shoulder issues following his high-pitch count debut in March, while Puig injured his shoulder during a pickoff attempt. Manager Hong has emphasized the importance of players returning to full health, recognizing the team's need for healthy athletes to become competitive.

As the Heroes begin a series of nine consecutive games, including a rare Monday game due to the Children's Day holiday, Hong plans to rely on a mix of veterans and second-year players to fill the gaps. Infielder Ko Young-woo and outfielder Won Sung-jun, both second-year pros, have been brought into the starting lineup as Hong looks to leverage their previous experience to inject energy into the team.

Reflecting on the contributions of Ko and Won last season, Hong expressed optimism about their potential impact. Ko and Won's appearances in the 2024 season gave them valuable exposure, which Hong hopes will translate into performance as they step up during the current injury crisis.