According to reports coming out of South Korea, Jung Ho Kang will have wrist surgery and it will end his season. Kang was planning to play for the Bradenton Marauders back on Tuesday, but was scratched from the lineup, and now this setback will reportedly require surgery after rehab didn’t work.
Due to the length of recovery time, rest and rehab was the best way to go at first because surgery back then would have also effectively ended his season. The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to provide an update later, so if anything different from this morning’s report is announced, we will provide an update here.
https://twitter.com/sung_minkim/status/1025330189675442176
UPDATE: The Pirates gave their update, and while the return time is much better, it’s still not good for the chances of him contributing at all this year. Once he does come back, whether it’s September 1st or two weeks later, he will still be over two months removed from his last game played.
“Jung Ho Kang had surgery to debride cartilage in his left wrist this morning by Dr. Ed Birdsong at Allegheny Health Network. Kang first reported discomfort in his left wrist on June 20, 2018. After the initial evaluation, a conservative course of treatment of rest and immobilization was implemented with surgery as a potential treatment option if there was a recurrence of symptoms. Kang reported recurrent left wrist discomfort during his batting practice Tuesday afternoon. The Pirates medical team and orthopedic surgeons discussed treatment options with Kang and his representatives for their consideration. On Thursday, Kang chose to have surgery performed by Dr. Birdsong at Allegheny Health Network.
The Pirates are very appreciative that Dr. Birdsong was able to clear a time slot on his schedule to expedite the timing of the surgery. The typical return to play from this type of surgery is four to six weeks.”
