Ham Deok-ju and Park Myung-geun (LG Twins) are expected to return next week. Will they be able to help the loose LG bullpen.스포츠토토
According to Yonhap News, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop talked about Ham Deok-ju and Park Myung-geun ahead of an away game against the Doosan Bears in the 2024 professional baseball regular season at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 6th.
First of all, Ham Deok-ju, who has been wearing LG’s uniform since 2021 after being drafted by the Doosan Bears as the 43rd overall in the fifth round in 2013, is a left-hander who had a 3.50 ERA with 35 wins, 21 losses, 59 saves and 49 holds in 397 games (501.2 innings) until last year.
Notably, he shone splendidly in the 2023 season. He played in 57 games (55.2 innings), recorded four wins, four saves and 16 holds with an ERA of 1.62 and contributed to LG’s overall win in 1990, 1994, and 2023 for the third time in 29 years since 1994. In recognition of his contribution, he signed a four-year free agent contract worth a total of 3.8 billion won (600 million won in down payment, 1.4 billion won in annual salary, and 1.8 billion won in incentive) after the season.
However, he did not have a good performance this year. He underwent surgery for a microfracture of his left elbow in January, and lost the entire first half of the year.
Park Myung-geun is also a right-handed sidearm pitcher who contributed to LG’s stellar performance last year. Although it was his debut season, he played in 36 games in the first half of the year, posting four wins, no losses, five saves and five holds with an earned run average of 3.25. His remarkable performance at one point even made news about his rookie award. Since then, Park has played 57 games (51.1 innings) due to injury and sluggish performance, with his final record remaining at four wins, three losses and five saves and nine holds with an earned run average of 5.08.
Park continued to display stellar performance this year. In 26 games (21.1 innings), he played one win, one loss, one save, eight holds, and an ERA of 4.22, which he did well. However, muscle injuries including June hampered him, and he had to take some time off.
Recently, the two skaters are preparing to return to games. Ham threw 11 balls at a practice game against the Korea-Japan Jangshin University on July 31, recording a maximum speed of 137 kilometers. On the same day, Park also threw seven balls, marking a maximum speed of 144 kilometers.
At a match between the Goyang Heroes (Kium Heroes’ second tier) and the Futures (second tier) held at Gocheok Sky Dome on Saturday, Ham also allowed two strikeouts and no runs in one inning. The total number of pitches he pitched was 16, and the maximum speed measured was 138 kilometers. Park Myung-geun also pitched one hit, one strikeout and no run in one inning in the match. With a total of 14 pitches thrown, the maximum speed was 145 kilometers.
The two players, who took the mound side by side in a practice game on the 6th, will take the mound in a Futures League game against Goyang in Icheon on the 9th to adjust their sense of play.
“[Ham Deok-ju and Park Myung-geun) will take the mound at a Futures League game on Tuesday. We will consider (when they will join the first team) after checking the details of the game,” Yeom said. “We can join the team as early as Tuesday.”
However, Ham Deok-ju had surgery, so even if he returns, he will manage it for the time being.
“Ham will throw around 30 pitches in the game on Saturday,” Yeom said. “Even if he is in the first team, he will use the ball on a limited basis. If he throws a game, he will have to take a rest for one game to manage the ball.”
LG is waiting more than anyone else for the two players to come back. LG’s bullpen pitcher posted an ERA of 4.90 this year, while his ERA of 6.61 in the second half of this year is eighth. If Ham Deok-ju and Park Myung-geun return healthy, LG will gain great strength.