Pirates, Cubs acknowledge no intent toward Kang on Coghlan slide
During Thursday's game against the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Jung Ho Kang was taken out by the Cubs' Chris Coghlan while trying to turn a double play.
The collision injured Kang, reportedly sidelining him for the rest of the season.
.@Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang reportedly out for year with fractured tibia, torn MCL suffered in collision today.
— MLB (@MLB) September 18, 2015
There was quite a bit of outrage on Twitter, some calling Coghlan's slide a dirty play. Both the Pirates and Cubs acknowledged there was no ill intent by Coghlan.
Pirates infielder Neil Walker said that it's something players are taught to do.
"We're taught to go in hard. We're taught to go in to get the guy off their feet," he said postgame via MLB.com. Unfortunately this led to a situation where we have one of our hottest hitters out for probably an extended period of time."
Cubs manager Joe Maddon agreed: "That's a good baseball play -- it's been going on for the last 100 years. There was no intent by anybody."
Jung Ho Kang's agent, Alan Nero, released a statement on behalf of Kang: pic.twitter.com/sdkqL29cGB
— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) September 17, 2015
Kang, through his agent, says he's confident Coghlan meant no harm:
Kang has been one of the most impactful players on the Pirates, owning 4.2 wins above replacement in his rookie season.
(h/t MLB.com)
