If there is no problem, I will try to register for the first team on Saturday (17th) as scheduled.”
Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop mentioned relief pitcher Choi Ji-gang ahead of the second showdown between the Lotte Giants of the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” held at Jamsil Stadium on the 14th.먹튀검증
Choi is a vitamin to Doosan’s bullpen. Prior to leaving the club due to shoulder pain in mid-April, Choi had played in 45 games with three wins, one loss, 13 holds, one save, 41 ⅓ innings with an ERA of 2.61. His record was the largest number of holds among Doosan’s bullpen pitchers and the third-highest number of innings. As evidenced by his records, Choi could feel how much role Choi plays in Doosan’s bullpen.
Regarding Choi’s injury, a Doosan official said, “Choi has been removed from the first team due to shoulder pain. We will inform him of the exact timing of his return after checking his condition.” Choi then resumed his rest period due to micro-damage of his right shoulder.
Fortunately, Choi returned to the mound in good health. A day earlier, Choi took the mound as relief pitcher at the match against SSG of the “2024 Mediheal KBO Futures League” held at Doosan Bears Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The game itself was not bad. During ⅔ innings, he threw 18 pitches, recording two hits, two walks and two runs (one earned run). He threw fastballs and sliders, and his maximum speed on fastballs was 151 km per hour. He is making strides to return to the top flight team one by one.
Choi is expected to gradually join the top tier team. When asked when Choi will return to the team, Lee replied, “If there is no problem with his condition, I will call him to the top tier team yesterday (13th). I have no problem with my pitching, but the player said, “(I) feel a little less sense of pitching).” If I take the mound again tomorrow (15th) and there is no problem, I will register for the top tier team on Saturday (17th) as scheduled.
Returning to Choi means strengthening Doosan’s bullpen. This year, Doosan is struggling due to overload of the bullpen. Lee Byung-hun (60 games/51 ⅔ innings), Kim Taek-yeon (48 games/51 ⅓ innings), Lee Young-ha (44 ⅓ innings), and Hong Gun-hee (45 games/43 ⅓ innings), who are the main pillars of the bullpen, were responsible for many games and innings. On top of that, Lee Young-ha left the club due to micro-damage in his right shoulder. He injured the same part as Choi. Against this backdrop, Choi Ji-gang’s return to the club can be a big boost to Doosan’s bullpen.
Meanwhile, Doosan changed its starting rotation after the match against Lotte in Jamsil was canceled due to rain on Wednesday. Choi Won-joon will be deployed between foreign pitchers Jordan Balazovic and K-sho Shirakawa. Lee plans to keep Choi’s starting rotation schedule. Balazovic will take the mound on Friday, and Choi will take the mound on Saturday. Shirakawa will start on Wednesday, Kwak Bin on Wednesday, and Choi Seung-yong on Wednesday.
“Choi Won-joon will take the mound as normal tomorrow (15th),” Lee said. “The size of Jamsil Baseball Stadium and Suwon Baseball Stadium (with respect to Shirakawa’s starting pitcher) are different. I thought about many things. The pitching coach put a lot of thought into it.”