LG Twins Face Uncertainty After Shin Min Jae Injury

The tension was palpable at Seoul’s Jamsil Baseball Stadium on August 8, 2025, as the LG Twins faced off against the Hanwha Eagles in a pivotal 2025 KBO League clash. All eyes were on LG’s dynamic second baseman, Shin Min-jae, whose recent performances had electrified fans and earned the admiration of his own manager, Yeom Kyung-yeop. But as the game unfolded, the drama reached a crescendo—not just with the scoreline, but with an unexpected injury that could have major implications for LG’s season ambitions.

Shin Min-jae, 29, has been a revelation for the Twins this season. Originally a utility player and once a development pick for the Doosan Bears back in 2015, Shin’s journey to stardom has been anything but ordinary. Since joining LG via the second draft, he’s steadily built a reputation as a clutch performer, both as a pinch runner and, since 2023, as the team’s everyday second baseman under manager Yeom Kyung-yeop’s stewardship. And what a year 2025 has been for him—batting .308 over 97 games, with a home run and 40 RBIs, Shin’s offensive numbers are at a career high. But it’s his defense that’s been turning heads league-wide.

“I’ve played that position, so I know just how tough those plays are,” Yeom said before the game, marveling at Shin’s recent defensive heroics. Just the night before, in a tense 3-3 tie against the Doosan Bears, Shin dove to snare a would-be hit from Jake Cave, then delivered a perfect glove toss to shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, nabbing the runner at second and preventing a go-ahead run. “If the ball lands deep in the glove, you can’t make an accurate throw,” Yeom explained. “You have to catch it right at the edge. It’s really not an easy thing to do.”

With such high praise ringing in his ears, Shin took to the field against Hanwha with confidence. Early in the game, he showed off his trademark defensive savvy. In the fourth inning, with one out and a runner on first, Hanwha’s Lee Jae-won grounded sharply to second. Shin scooped up the ball, stepped on second for the force out, and fired to first to complete a slick double play, drawing cheers from the home crowd. It was vintage Shin—quick, precise, and unflappable under pressure.

But baseball, as ever, is a game of twists and turns. In the later innings, as LG battled to keep their lead, disaster struck. In the bottom of the ninth, Shin stepped into the batter’s box with a runner on second and one out. Hanwha’s veteran pitcher Yeon Kyung-ryeon, known for his aggressive fastball, let one fly inside. The pitch struck Shin square on the arm, and he immediately grimaced in pain, clutching his elbow as the stadium fell silent. Trainers rushed onto the field as Shin, clearly in discomfort, was helped off and taken straight to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

“He was in a lot of pain after getting hit,” a team spokesperson reported after the game. “We’re monitoring his condition and will know more after further tests.” The blow was not just physical—LG’s dugout looked visibly shaken as one of their most reliable infielders was sidelined at such a crucial juncture in the season.

Shin’s absence was immediately felt. In his last at-bat before the injury, he struck out swinging with a runner in scoring position, a rare moment of frustration for the usually composed infielder. As he walked back to the dugout, head bowed, the disappointment was written all over his face. Moments later, the fateful hit-by-pitch would put his status for upcoming games in question.

Despite the setback, the LG Twins managed to hold their own for most of the contest. Earlier in the week, they’d reclaimed the top spot in the KBO League standings with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Doosan Bears, powered by Shin’s clutch three-run double in the fourth inning. That win, which snapped a brief stint in second place behind Hanwha, showcased the Twins’ resilience and their knack for big moments. “Our infield defense with Oh Ji-hwan, Shin Min-jae, and Koo Bon-hyuk is top class,” Yeom had declared, and the stats back him up—LG’s infield has been among the league’s stingiest, turning key double plays and limiting opponents’ rallies.

But with Shin’s injury, questions loom. The 2025 KBO League standings as of August 9 show LG Twins clinging to first place with a 64-41 record and a .610 winning percentage, just two games ahead of the hard-charging second-place team. Every game counts as the season moves into its decisive stretch, and the loss of Shin, even for a few days, could tilt the balance in this ultra-competitive league.

Shin’s journey to this point has been marked by perseverance. After years as a role player, his breakthrough came in 2023 when he became LG’s starting second baseman. That same year, he earned his first call-up to the senior national team for the Premier12 tournament—a testament to his growing stature in Korean baseball. Since then, he’s been a fixture in the lineup, his glove and bat equally indispensable to LG’s championship hopes.

Manager Yeom, himself a former defensive infielder, has been one of Shin’s staunchest supporters. “Since the second half of last year, he’s really stabilized and his defense has gotten even better,” Yeom said. “He’s become a leader on the field.” That leadership was on full display in the doubleheader against Hanwha, where Shin not only anchored the defense but also provided key at-bats until his untimely exit.

As the Twins await further news on Shin’s injury, the team faces a stretch of critical games that could define their season. The KBO League is notorious for its tight races and dramatic swings in fortune. One hot streak—or one key injury—can make all the difference. Fans and teammates alike are holding their breath, hoping Shin’s arm heals quickly and he can return to the diamond where he’s become such a vital force.

For now, the LG Twins will have to soldier on without their star second baseman, at least temporarily. But if Shin Min-jae’s career has taught anyone anything, it’s that resilience runs deep—both for the player and the team. The coming days will reveal just how much grit this LG squad possesses as they chase their championship dreams, one pitch at a time.