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Jung-Ho Kang Undergoes Surgery, Out 6-8 Months

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PITTSBURGH – Jung-Ho Kang left the game with an apparent left-knee injury in the first inning this afternoon, after Cubs’ right fielder Chris Coghlan slid hard into Kang’s legs attempting to break up a double-play.

Kang was unable to put any pressure on his left leg as he was assisted off of the field by the Pirates’ training staff.

Will update as more information becomes available.

UPDATE 2:00 PM: Pirates indeed confirm that the injury was to Kang’s left-knee. He is currently being evaluated and treated and the Pirates will provide more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE 7:01 PM: Kang went for an MRI after the game, but the results aren’t known yet. His agent, Alen Nero, released a statement on his behalf:

“It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury. That said, Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I’m confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone’s support.”

The “serious injury” part doesn’t sound good. There are no results to the MRI that have been made available by the Pirates, so hopefully this isn’t revealing the actual results, as that sounds like a bad result. – Tim

UPDATE 7:10 PM: Josh Yohe and Dejan Kovacevic are reporting that Kang is to undergo knee surgery tonight, and will be out for the year. The injury is reportedly a “fractured tibial plateau, as well as a torn MCL and torn meniscus in the knee”, according to those two. Other sources have followed up this report saying Kang will have surgery tonight. – Tim

This is obviously a big blow for the Pirates, since Kang has been one of their best hitters, both tonight and all season.

UPDATE 10:47 PM: The Pirates announced that Kang underwent surgery this evening at AGH. He had “an open reduction/internal fixation of a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture with a lateral meniscal repair.” The estimated time for return to competition is six to eight months. Best case, that puts him back right in the middle of Spring Training next year, and the long range has him missing the first month and a half of the 2016 season. – Tim

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