Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang out for remainder of season

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn left MCL and broken tibia that will require surgery. Kang was covering second base when Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan slid into him in an effort to break up a double play.

It’s a significant loss for the Bucs, as the 28-year-old Kang has been a surprise hit in his first season in Major League Baseball. He signed with Pittsburgh last offseason from the KBO League in South Korea.

Kang was slashing .287/.355/.461 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI through 126 games. His 4.1 WAR is currently third among all rookies, helping to make him an increasingly strong candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Through his agent, Kang stated that he did not blame Coghlan for what he felt was a clean play:

The Pirates will certainly miss Kang’s production and positional versatility as they aim for the postseason. They currently trail the Cardinals by 4.5 games in the NL Central and hold a two-game edge in the race for the league’s first Wild Card spot. Going forward they will likely manage with Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer on the left side of the infield.

Looking further ahead, FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi reports that there is some concern that Kang’s recovery could cause him to miss the beginning of next year. Pittsburgh will hope that will not be the case.

Next: Reds should hire Barry Larkin as manager