I don't get a brake. Tommy John surgery. → Camp…Monster Resilience Lee Eui-ri Laughs at KIA
Jan 05, 2025
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The KIA Tigers are admiring the monster resilience of left-hander Lee Eui-ri (23). Lee Eui-ri went on the operating table after playing in only four games last year. Since April last year, his rehabilitation has been prolonged due to his poor elbow, and he returned to the mound after about a month, but his elbow pain was not caught, so he ended the season after undergoing reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) and bone fragment removal in June.
Lee Eui-ri has never experienced a recurrence of pain while rehabilitating for the past six months. Rather, the recovery speed is fast, so it is moving to the next stage. The player is being careful not to overdo it, but now his body is built enough to join the first spring camp in Irvine, California, the U.S. from the end of this month.
KIA pitching coach Chung Jae-hoon said, "(Lee) has entered the ITP (stage-by-stage pitching program) now. He said that his physical condition now has never been braked even after hearing from his training part or himself. If such physical condition continues to be guaranteed, I think I will also go to the first-team camp in Irvine this time. After pitching the bullpen together in a warm place, we will go to the second spring camp in Okinawa, Japan, from February to March. At that time, I think I can start pitching from the breaking ball on the mound"I looked at it positively.
Joining the spring camp does not mean joining the opening entry. As Lee Eui-ri is a very important player in the starting lineup, he is focusing on making his body like the first-team players in a warm place. If it is judged that it is too much for the player's body, there is no reason to push ahead.
Coach Chung said "I think it would be too much to be loyal at the start of the season. Still, if it's going on now, I think I can come back a little faster than I thought. The operation, which was performed in June last year, takes an average of one to one year and two months to return. It is expected to return around May to June, but it will take a year even if it returns in June. Still, it is quite encouraging that we are proceeding with ITP in good health so far."
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KIA is laughing at the rapid recovery of its objections, but it should prepare for the inevitable gap that occurs at the beginning of the season. Currently, only three foreign pitchers James Nail (32), Adam Oler (31), and veteran left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong (37) have been selected. Yoon Young-chul (21), Hwang Dong-ha (23), and Kim Do-hyun (25) compete for the remaining two seats. Rookie Kim Tae-hyung (19), a first-round rookie in 2025, does not know whether the starting line will be the first team or the second team, but the club is preparing to raise him as a starting pitcher.
Coach Chung said, "(Yoon) Young-chul has no problem with his current physical condition starting early next season. (Kim) Do-hyun, Young-cheol, (Hwang) Dong-ha, and rookie (Kim) Tae-hyung are likely to build up so that they can prepare as starters by throwing a little long spring camp and exhibition games. Other players can also play swingmen in the first team or have them prepare to start in the second team. Then, if they become loyal, the competition for the position will become very fierce," he said, expecting the candidates to thoroughly prepare and join the spring camp.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
