‘Healthy Koo Chang-mo’s return to the first team is just around the corner. The good news delivered by valuable left-hander Koo Chang-mo (26, NC Dinos), who was also selected for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games national team, makes national baseball coach Ryu Joong-il smile.
Koo Chang-mo started on the mound in the KBO Futures League visiting game against KT Wiz held at Iksan Stadium on the 19th and threw 27 pitches in two innings, allowing one hit and two strikeouts and no runs.
He tuned his pitching sense by mixing 20 fastballs, 5 sliders, and 2 forkballs that reached a maximum speed of 145 km/h.
Top speed: 145 km/h, if it’s ‘Healthy Koo Chang-mo’… Baseball fans are excited
Koo Chang-mo, who treated Lee Si-won with a fly ball to shortstop in the first inning, caught him with a fly ball to center field after a five-pitch match with Lee Sang-ho. Third pitcher Hwang Eui-jun struck out three pitches and ended the inning with a three-way pitch. In the second inning, Kang Min-seong grounded out to third base, Lee Jun-hee struck out, and Han Ji-yong hit an infield hit in the sixth, but Ji Kang-hyuk was caught with a fly to left field, ending the inning without allowing a run.
Koo Chang-mo has left a deep impression as a leading left-hander in the KBO League in recent years. The problem was health. Koo Chang-mo, who left a brilliant impression by recording 10 wins (7 losses) and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.20 in 23 games in 2019, left an amazing record with 9 wins and an ERA of 1.74 in 15 games the following year without a loss.
He was hampered by injuries. Koo Chang-mo, who had been off due to injury since July, contributed to the team’s first integrated win by putting up a comeback in the Korean Series after his rehabilitation. However, the following year, the stress fracture in his left forearm recurred, and he ended up on the operating table, taking all of 2021 off.
Koo Chang-mo, who returned in May 2022, pitched in only 19 games and produced 11 wins (5 losses) and an ERA of 2.10, and after the season, he successfully signed a multi-year non-free agent (FA) contract worth up to 13.2 billion won for 6+1 years with NC. .
In the season that began after wearing the Taegeuk flag at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March this year, Koo Chang-mo was somewhat unlucky and recorded 1 win and 3 losses in 9 games, but his ERA was respectable at 3.26.
However, Koo Chang-mo’s performance lasted until June. He had been consistently on the injured list since May and disappeared after being expunged from the first team on June 23. He once again felt discomfort in his left arm and his rehabilitation period was prolonged.
Koo Chang-mo never disappoints when he is healthy, so expectations are growing with the news that he recorded a top speed of 145 km/h and cleanly pitched two innings.카지노사이트
“There is no Kim Kwang-hyun or Yang Hyeon-jong…” Director Ryu Joong-il’s sigh is relieved by Koo Chang-mo.
The problem was the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which opens on September 23rd. Starting with this competition, the criteria for player selection have changed significantly. The age limit was created to prevent the league from being interrupted due to the Asian Games and to foster younger players. It was limited to those under the age of 25, and the wild card was also limited to those under the age of 29.
It was also a cause for concern for the baseball team, which was trying to win its fourth straight game. This is because it is true that there is a hole in the team’s ability due to the age limit imposed on the team, which was different from what the best players of the time played in.
Director Ryu Joong-il previously spoke about these concerns in a phone call with Star News at the end of last month, saying, “I think I need to take a closer look at the status of Koo Chang-mo and Lee Ui-ri.”
Coach Ryu said, “We did not select the best player in the league, but we set an age limit. The same goes for wild cards,” and added, “The guys who dominate the KBO league are all over 30. Players over 30 like Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong are the team’s top players. “He has established himself as an ace. We have to compete with young players, but the lack of players with sufficient experience is a bit of a drawback.”
In that respect, the news of Koo Chang-mo’s return is good news that can ease director Ryu Joong-il’s sighs. After the game, Koo Chang-mo said through the club, “I am happy that I was able to finish the given inning cleanly without worrying about my body. It has been a long time since I played in an official game and pitched in practice, and I felt good overall. The fastball was also good, and although I did not throw many breaking balls, I am satisfied.” “I was nervous on the mound, but I was able to finish well thanks to catcher Shin Yong-seok’s good lead.”
The baseball team will be convened on the 23rd and continue training at Gocheok Sky Dome before leaving for Hangzhou on the 28th. The group stage schedule will continue, starting with the Hong Kong match on the 1st of next month.