Seoul: KT Wiz outfielder Ahn Hyun-min, the leading contender for the top rookie prize in South Korean baseball this year, has been sidelined with a calf injury. The Wiz announced Saturday that Ahn has been diagnosed with a small blood clot in both calves, along with muscle tightness. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Ahn will rest for two to three days before returning to practice.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn went down during Friday’s game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. While trying to make a play in right field, Ahn lost his balance and fell. He stayed down in pain before getting taken off the field in an ambulance.
The 21-year-old has been the breakout star in the KBO this year. He leads the league with a .347 batting average and a .455 on-base percentage, and sits second with a .602 slugging percentage. He leads all rookies with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs despite playing in only 83 games.
He is expected to win the Rookie of the Year award and also get some MVP consideration. He was voted the KBO’s Player of the Month for July, when he posted a .441/.551/.706 line with five home runs in 21 games.