NC Dinos’ Koo Chang-mo (26) played his first live pitching since his forearm injury.
Koo Chang-mo threw 30 balls in a live pitching training session at Masan Stadium, the home stadium of NC’s Futures (second division) on the morning of the 13th. He pitched two sets of 15 each. His fastball (17) reached 140 kilometers per hour. In addition to fastballs, he also checked forkballs (6), sliders (5), and curves (2).스포츠토토
In June, Koo Chang-mo was diagnosed with micro-damage of the flexural muscle in the forearm of his left arm. However, at a re-examination at the end of June, the condition worsened due to a fracture of the left arm ulnar fatigue. After months of rehabilitation, he said after a live pitching, “I stepped on the mound after a long time. There was no big problem with my arm, and it felt good. It was time to check the breaking balls and set positions. “The ball speed is also rising little by little, and I have confidence that the ball power will come up as I play in the future,” he said.
Ahead of the Changwon KT Wiz match on the 13th, NC manager Kang In-kwon said of Koo Chang-mo, “I don’t think we need to put meaning on the ball speed now,” adding, “We talked after pitching (live pitching) and he was in good shape.” We will have to wait and see after tomorrow, but even if we are worried that we are in a hurry, the player says, “There is no big inconvenience.” He said enthusiastically, “It’s okay.”
It’s time for the real game. Koo Chang-mo is scheduled to take the mound against Masan Armed Forces Sports Unit (Sangmu) in the Futures League on the 16th. Coach Kang said, “I plan to put it in the game and pitch about one inning, but I will let him throw less than 30 pitches,” adding, “If there is no major discomfort or abnormal symptoms after throwing, I will register for the first-tier entry next week to start from the bullpen.”
Both NC and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games national team are paying keen attention to Koo Chang-mo’s return. Koo Chang-mo is scheduled to join the national team, which will be convened on the 23rd. He said, “I want to do everything I can in a given position. I want to prepare well until the end and repay the team with a long absence. “I will play baseball with good health and confidence so as not to disappoint those who have trusted and waited,” he vowed.