Does it make sense, Tommy John's crazy resilience, → going all the way to camp...I think he's done with his rehabilitation

Feb 19, 2025

KIA Tigers squad returned home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 19th. Kia's team will depart for Okinawa, Japan, in the second camp on the 20th. Lee Eui-ri leaving the arrival hall. Incheon International Airport = Song Jeong-heon, reporter for @sportschosun.com/2025.02.19/

KIA Tigers squad returned home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 19th. Kia's team will depart for Okinawa, Japan, in the second camp on the 20th. Coach Lee Bum-ho, Son Seung-rak, and Kim Joo-chan are leaving the arrival hall. Incheon International Airport = Song Jeong-heon, reporter for @sportschosun.com/2025.02.19/

"I think the rehabilitation is over. "

KIA Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho returned home to Incheon International Airport on the 19th and expressed satisfaction with the recovery of left-hander Lee Eui-ri (23), one of the main starting pitchers. Lee and other KIA teams returned home on the 18th after the first Irvine spring camp in the U.S.

Lee Eui-ri has endured rehabilitation due to poor elbow since April last year, but ended the season in June after undergoing reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) and bone fragment removal. The injury itself was painful, but it was not a very negative situation. Lee Eui-ri joined KIA with the first nomination in 2021 and has never been out of the first division. It was Lee Eui-ri, who had thrown the ball almost non-stop since he was a rookie, so it was an opportunity to relax once.

After the surgery, Lee Eui-ri continued to surprise coach Lee and other coaches with a tremendous recovery. Rehabilitation went very smoothly, and Lee Eui-ri joined the U.S. Irvine 1st Spring Camp list and accelerated the pace of rehabilitation.

Regarding taking Lee Eui-ri before leaving the first camp, coach Lee said "Lee is at the stage where he has to pitch now." He said in the training part that pitching will allow the Futures League to increase the number of pitches step by step while rotating its starting rotation from March and April. From now on, it's time for the pitching coach to watch from the side and pitch, so I decided it would be better to go to spring camp, so I made him prepare like that."

Lee also showed remarkable recovery speed in Irvine. He even proceeded with bullpen pitching without any problems, making his return in the first half of the year worth looking forward to. Of course, there is no reason for the current objection to be unreasonable, but the fact that the body is recovering quickly and well is a very positive sign for KIA.

KIA will depart for Okinawa, Japan, the second spring camp training site on Tuesday, and continue its practice-oriented training from Wednesday. It was unclear whether Lee Eui-ri would accompany him to Okinawa because he is not in a hurry to play, and Lee included Lee in the Okinawa camp list.

Coach Lee smiled with satisfaction, saying, `I think I'm almost done with rehabilitation when I see him pitching,' and added, `Now I'm going to go to Okinawa and play live pitching against batters. His ball pitching was good, and he threw 70 to 80 pitches. If you have pain somewhere, you have to slow it down a little, but without that, you're going at a very good pace, so I'm going to move to Okinawa and try to set up the batters and pitch live", he explained.

The opening game between Kiwoom and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 23rd, KIA Lee Eui-ri is heading to the dugout after training. Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2024.03.23/

KIA Tigers Lee Eui-ri is continuing his spring camp training with the goal of 155km at the first pitch of his return match. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

He stressed that there is no need to worry. If coach Lee and other coaches were closely monitoring Lee Eui-ri's physical condition and judged that it was too much, they did not have to include him in the Okinawa camp list. Neither the team nor the objection is in a very urgent situation.

Director Lee is not trying to raise the pace that quickly, but looking at the balance now, I think the weather will be cold in Korea at the beginning. I think the training part is preparing very well for those things. I prepared accordingly and so far, I think I'm rehabilitating very smoothly and perfectly."

KIA pitching coach Jung Jae-hoon expected Lee Eui-ri to return to the mound as early as May or June if he continues his rehabilitation without pain.

When asked if Lee Eui-ri could return to the team in the first half of the year, Lee would save his words, saying, `I'm not sure about that,' and let Lee prepare by rotating in the Futures League. "In the training part, I said it was okay, and if Jin Gap-yong, head coach of the Futures team, judged it and said it was okay now, I think we should prepare it and post it from then on."

KIA has currently confirmed four starting positions, including James Nail, Adam Oler, Yang Hyun-jong and Yoon Young-chul. Hwang Dong-ha, Kim Do-hyun, and rookie Kim Tae-hyung are competing for the 5th starter. Since there is not a shortage of starting pitchers, it is enough for Lee to return only around June.

Regarding the current fierce competition for the 5th selection, Lee Eui-ri said "It seems good." It's good that the structure of continuing to have competitors and competition itself seems to be strengthening the team. He showed a strong will to recover his body health and make the starting pitcher competition more intense.