Bears’ infielder called fit after on-field collapse

Fans of the Doosan Bears had a heart-dropping moment when second baseman Oh Jae-won collapsed during a game against the NC Dinos on Sunday at Masan Baseball Stadium in Changwon, South Gyeongsang.

In the bottom of the sixth, Oh signalled for a timeout. When the second base umpire approached Oh and then called the Bears trainer, Oh sat on the ground and eventually had to lie with the face up.

Medical staff brought a stretcher out, while an ambulance was summoned into the stadium. The 30-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital emergency room.

The Bears later said that Oh had gotten dizzy because of the heat and had a little difficulty breathing. But after conducting CT scans and a blood test, doctors said he had no underlying conditions that would prevent his return to the diamond.

Oh, the team captain, was treated and released from the hospital in time to join the squad’s return to Seoul.

That was good news for the Bears; Oh has been a core player for the team. He is hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs this season. The second baseman is hitting .321 with runners in scoring position and has 20 stolen bases, both No. 1 on the team.

The Bears said Oh had a minor headache on Sunday but opted to play in that game. He will be given some extra rest, the club said, and should be back to normal for tonight’s action.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]