PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie infielder Jung Ho Kang left in the top of the first inning Thursday with an apparent left leg injury after the Chicago Cubs’ Chris Coghlan slid into him while unsuccessfully trying to break up a double play.
Kang, playing shortstop, was helped off the field by two members of the Pirates’ training staff and replaced by Jordy Mercer.
Kang is hitting .287 with 15 home runs in 126 games while becoming the first native South Korean position player to make the transition to the major leagues from the Korean Baseball Organization. He has made 54 starts at third base and 49 at shortstop.