NC Dinos Koo Chang-mo.
The Korean National Baseball Team is just five days away from being called up for the Hangzhou Asian Games. The
announcement of replacements for injured players, including Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom), who is out for the season, 스포츠토토 is also imminent.
The biggest question is whether left-hander Koo Chang-mo (26-NC) will be included. Koo, who joined the team as
a “wildcard” over the age of 25, was initially expected to serve as the team’s ace.
However, a week before the final roster announcement, things went awry. Koo, who was starting that day, came off
the mound after feeling discomfort in his left arm.
The initial diagnosis was a micro-injury to the flexor hallucis longus muscle, which was expected to take three
weeks to rehabilitate. However, his recovery was slower, and a second opinion revealed a fatigue fracture of the
ulna in his left arm. As July and August came to a close, 토토 Koo was forced to focus on rehabilitation.
In September, when the national team was called up, he began to time his return. He started pitching out of the
bullpen on the fifth, upped his pitch count to 50, and threw a 30-pitch live game on the 13th. His fastball topped out at 140 kilometers per hour.
On the 16th, he was scheduled to start the second team game against the Sangmu, but the game was canceled
due to rain. He will pitch again on the 19th against the KT Wiz at Iksan Stadium in Jeonbuk.
Now that he’s pitched live, Koo’s health seems to be in good shape. Of course, it’s too early to be optimistic, as there
could be other variables in a live game.
The problem is that even if he does return, it’s virtually impossible for him to start as originally planned.
In the first place, Koo was able to move quickly through the bullpen and live pitching phases because he was
prepared for his return to the bullpen. He made this choice because he needed more time before he could return
to a starting role with a high pitch count and innings pitched.
Koo hasn’t even pitched a live game yet, but even if he does, the original plan has been derailed.
Cho Kye-hyun (left), chairman of the KBO’s Power Enhancement Committee, and Ryu Jung-il, head coach of the Asian Games baseball team.
For Koo Chang-mo
Himself, the national team is a necessity. If he doesn’t get an exemption from military service by participating in
this team, he will have to enlist after the season ends.
He applied to the team before the national team was announced and was accepted. Even so, playing in the
Futures League with the club is not the same as spending a year in the professional first team. He signed a long-
term non-free agent contract with NC before this season, so the timing of his second free agency will also be different.
But the national team is a place where you can’t just look at one player. They need to put together the best
possible team and play their best game. Even though baseball is a relatively easy sport to win gold in the Asian
Games, there are no guarantees. If you’re traveling with a player who isn’t in perfect shape and doesn’t perform, the
repercussions could be immeasurable.
Ryu Jung-il-ho
is scheduled to convene the national team for the first time on March 23 for training and practice matches before
departing the country on March 28.
That’s five days away. The KBO Power Enhancement Committee is expected to finalize and announce the